BONTOC. Mtn. Province – Two Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) projects will be implemented this year in the province!
Last week, engineers from TIEZA motored to the province to validate and assess the proposed Provincial Tourism, Cultural Center, and Museum building in the capital town. It is to replace the existing Provincial Tourism Office made of light materials.
During the courtesy call of the TIEZA personnel to Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr, Architect Noel Fagyan of the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) presented the design and Program of Works of the proposed project amounting to P30 Million.
In a visit of Governor Lacwasan with this writer last April 9, 2024 to the office of the TIEZA in Manila, where the plans and POWs were presented to Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, the amount will depend on the validation and assessment later. There might be expansions in the plans.
True enough, the governor suggested the expansion of the plan and design to extend to the roads at the side and back of the building.
The proposed four-story building will house the proposed Political Museum, the Provincial Tourism Office, the Culture and the Arts Office, and the cultural multi-purpose hall.
Meanwhile, the same group went to Bayyo, Bontoc to visit the proposed Tourism Rest Area site that was earlier approved by Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco. The project supporting documents are still being completed before its ensuing implementation.
The Tourism Rest Area is a one-story edifice that is a pet project of the Secretary located nationwide. The Bayyo TRA worth P10 million is the first such project in the region.
The tourism facility will house a coffee shop, a souvenir shop, a toilet, a lactation area, a charging station, and a rest area for tourists and commuters.
For both projects, the governor told the visitors to relay to TIEZA the appreciation of the province.**Roger Sacyaten
