30 tourist sites to get potable water supply

MANILA, Philippines - Visiting some 30 tourist spots in the country would not only be more fun but thirst quenching as well as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) embarks on a P1.73-billion project to install potable drinking water in these scenic spots.

DPWH announced that it is set to implement the Tourism Water Supply Infrastructure Program (TWSIP) that would provide potable water supply to some 30 waterless tourist spots in the country.

Areas identified as recipients of the project are considered in-need locations or those that have remained waterless for years but have potential for growth, particularly in the tourism industry.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said, “Tourism spots need to have safe and sustainable water supply to further enhance its tourism potential. This will be addressed once our water supply projects are completed.”

The 30 municipalities that would benefit from the project are: Currimao and San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte (Region 1); Baguio City in Benguet (Cordillera Administrative Region); Roxas and El Nido in Palawan (Region 4B); Aroroy in Masbate (Region 5); Murcia and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, Balete and Libacao in Aklan; Jamindan and Pres. Roxas in Capiz and Passi in Iloilo (Region 6).

Also included are eight municipalities in Central Visayas, with five in Cebu namely Aloguinsan, Toledo City, San Fernando, Cordoba and Sibonga; and three in Bohol namely Jetafe, Talibon and Trinidad.

Also among the beneficiaries are two areas in Western Mindanao, namely Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur; Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental (Region 10); six sites in Region 11 namely Nabunturan and Montevista in Compostela Valley and Asuncio, Braulio E Dujali, Carmen and New Corella in Davao del Norte.

The TWSIP is a joint project of the DPWH, Department of Tourism, Local Water Utilities Administration, and the National Anti-Poverty Commission, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Together, they aim to facilitate tourism and economic growth in identified priority development areas in the country.