R667-million

Tourism road projects in Bacolod endorsed

BACOLOD CITY—The Regional Development Council approved Thursday the endorsement of R667 million in tourism road projects for the city for 2019.

City Planning Development Office Head Mary Jean Ramos said the council voted to endorse four projects for inclusion in the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) convergence project to create more tourism roads.

The proposal was among the R3.56 billion worth of projects approved by the council’s infrastructure committee last month.

The projects include the reconstruction or improvement of the access road to tourist destinations from B.S. Aquino Drive leading to Murcia Proper and Mambukal Resort, Narra Street leading to Sta. Fe Resort, and Araneta Street leading to Palmas Del Mar Resort, and the improvement of Arceo-Alegria road leading to Murcia Proper, the gateway to Mountain Resort.

The city government hosted the RDC’s second quarter regular meeting Thursday at Seda Hotel here. Mayor Evelio Leonardia gave the council members a heads-up on the situation in Bacolod.

Leonardia said the city has given a substantial share in the growth of the region, but there should be more infrastructure projects to assure continuity of progress.

Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, the RDC chair, vowed to help fast-track the infrastructure projects in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, to make up for the delays in development after the province was returned to Western Visayas.

Cadiao said when Negros Occidental became part of Western Visayas again, the council readily approved in their first regular meeting projects in the province and Bacolod.