Bogo City in the north and the municipalities of Dumanjug and Santander in the south, as well as Pinamungajan in midwest Cebu have been identified as the locations of Tourist Rest Areas (TRAs) to be constructed by the Provincial Government.
Gov. Gwen Garcia met with the mayors of the four LGUs on August 23 and asked their input on the best location where the facilities are to be built; though the governor wanted that these be along highways for better accessibility.
Bogo City Carlo Martinez, Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica, Santander Mayor Monique Buscato, and Pinamungajan Mayor Jessica Baricuatro gladly welcomed the construction of these facilities which are expected to be of great help to local and international tourists in their towns.
The TRAs will be patterned after the ones constructed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) all over the country. These will have an area of at least 1,500 square meters and will feature a tourist information center, lounge area, coffee shops, a charging station, clean restrooms and shower rooms, Pasalubong Centers, as well as ample parking space.
Last July 10 during the inauguration of the first TRA ever completed by the DOT in the entire country in Medellin, Gov. Garcia, in the presence of DOT Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco, pledged that the Capitol will likewise construct as much TRAs as DOT has constructed in Cebu.
DOT is in varying stages of the construction of four TRAs in Cebu which are located in Medellin and Carmen in the north; and Carcar City and Moalboal in the south.
TRA is one of the flagship program of Secretary Frasco and is grounded in the department’s vision to provide convenience and comfort to tourists. | Babie Jane Revecoy