2014: From ‘Albay Rising’ to ‘Albay Boom’

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Albay has shifted its already strong and accelerating development thrust this year to an explosive ‘Albay Boom’ mode from its ‘Albay Rising’battlecry, banking on a P2.243 billion outlay for infrastructures to support its comprensive and  holistic tourism program.

 Albay Gov. Joey Salceda  said the province this year aims for a Tourism Boom; Arts, History and Culture Renaissance; infrastructure modernization; single digit malnutrition, get within the Top 20 of the National Achievement Test towards Top 10 in 2016, win the February 2014 Palarong Bicol for its Sports and Well-Being Program, new members for the Almasor Tourism Alliance, and rich agriculture. 

Salceda said they expect a windfall from the onrush of Chinese tourists, which starts with the opening of the Albay International Gateway this month towards the much anticipated Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in 2016 for which the province is hosting at least three ministerial meetings.

 The initial target for 2014, he said, is to welcome the first batch of Chinese tourists from Xiamen via chartered flights through the Albay International Gateway by Jan. 30,which unlocks a 50,000 market within the year, 80,000 in 2015, 110,000 in 2016 and 150,000 in 2017.

Albay has also embarked on a strong arts, history and culture renaissance program needed by the expected influx of tourists, side by side with modern infrastructures. A proposal has been submitted to the UNESCO to declare Cagsawa Ruins Park as a world heritage site.

 As convenor of the Almasor (Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon) Tourism Alliance, Salceda said they have started collaborations with new prospective members such as Catanduanes and Camarines Sur through the Bicol Regional Development Council, which he chairs.

The governor said the province will also pursue more strongly its health and poverty alleviation programs that it has started to ensure a single digit malnutrition within the year. 

Of the P2.243 billion infrastructure budget, Salceda said some P421 million goes to the Guicadale (Guinobatan-Camalig-Daraga-Legazpi) Economic Platform, the key geostrategic intervention of Albay for spatial integration of its upland areas suitable for settlements and commercial development around the Bicol International Airport (BIA), seen to be completed by 2017.