Boom in Samal economy seen with completion of 31.4-km tourism road
ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL — It used to take at least an hour to navigate the less than eight-kilometer ( km) road between Barangay Camudmud here to the barge terminal in the Babak District.
Now an average drive between the two points is only about 15 minutes with a paved street that is part of the 31.4-km circumferential road network around Samal, officially named the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS).
“When the circumferential road became serviceable… new businesses arrived and resorts started popping up, giving Samal Island’s residents more employment opportunities,” said Gene C. Bangayan, chief financial officer of the Holiday Group of Companies that owns the Holiday Ocean View Resort Village here during last Wednesday’s briefing on the Department of Tourism (DoT)-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Convergence-Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP).
About 80% of the circumferential road on the 187-square-km island, part of Davao del Norte, is done and full completion is targeted by January.
Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. Del Rosario said the program is expected to enhance Samal’s tourism industry as well as improve the quality of life for the island’s residents.
“This infrastructure project and capabilitybuilding programs of the government will not only provide employment opportunities but will help prepare Samal for investors,” said Mr. Del Rosario, who is also pushing for the construction of an airport on the island.
Prior to the briefing, an inaugural drivethrough of the road network that leads to various tourism destinations and attractions in IGaCoS was led by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III.
“This road network will make an impact on the region’s economy given that every tourist who comes to the Philippines can create one job following the multiplier effect,” said Mr. Aquino. DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said there are 40 TRIP projects worth P6 billion in Davao Region, “comprising 242 km of roads, of which 156 km has been completed and the others still ongoing.”