TOURIST DESTINATIONS THIS SUMMER.
The world famous Chocolate Hills in Carmen town and the
Loboc river cruise are the areas where tourists are expected
to jam this summer. Due to the heavy influx, authorities,
PNP and LGUs are expected to implement traffic measures
to ensure the safety of tourists. |
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The
safety of tourists who are expected to flock this summer
and fiesta month of May to the world famous Chocolate
Hills and Loboc River Cruise is being demanded from
authorities by the Provincial Tourism Council. (PTC).
The
call for safety and precautionary measures was issued
by PTC Chair Peter Dejaresco following the recent road
accident involving a Korean tourist who
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was
about to take lunch at the Loboc River Cruise last Sunday.
The
Korean national identified as Ji Kyung-A, 36, of South Korea
was hit by a speeding motorcycle while crossing the national
highway to the Long River Cruise floating restaurant. He was
with seven other Korean tourists who aborted their leisure river
cruise and instead rushed the victim to the Ramiro Hospital
where he was admitted due to his 12-stetch head injury.
Iyan
Cainglet, a DOT accredited guide told the Chronicle that the
tour of the Korean nationals was arranged by Alona Kew Beach
Resort where the guests were billeted. He said the victim's
head was profusely bleeding when his friends rushed him to
the hospital. The guide failed to escort the tourists as he
was with the Loboc PNP to record the incident.
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The
congested national highway fronting the Loboc River
Cruise and the tarsier viewing areas has always been
the object of complaints from concerned residents who
see the risk of tourists since vehicles are parked at
the sides of the highway which make the road congested.
The
congestion problem is part of the concern after the
newly completed new docking port area could not accommodate
tourist buses due to the weak bailey bridge which links
the national highway to the new docking port. Rep. Eladio
Jala failed to appropriate sufficient amount to change
the bridge considering that the Loboc LGU under Mayor
Leon Calipusan has ventured on the multi-million docking
port. In fact, not even a world class comfort room has
been provided by the last termer congressman not until
Chinese businessman donated the project of a center
which includes the air-conditioned rest room at the
new docking port area.
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Another
matter of concern during this peak season is the Chocolate
Hills complex where vans and cars are again allowed to park
alongside the steep winding road leading the view deck and
restaurant atop a hill.
Bernard
Marasigan, operations manager of OceanJet fast ferry complained
on the great risk of incoming vehicles since only one lane
is left while the other side is occupied by parked vans and
cars. He saw the traffic mess at the complex when he escorted
some guests last Monday.
The
PTC during an earlier request made with the Carmen local government
requested that vehicles will be allowed at the complex just
to drop-off their guests while a parking area be provided
down the hill. Drivers will just be called once their guests
will be ready for pick-up on their way out from the complex.
The
PTC chair reminded the Carmen LGU and the PNP to strictly
re-implement the agreement of not allowing vehicles to park
alongside the hill to avoid accidents. He feared that if this
will not be checked, vehicles which might encounter engine
or brake problems will slid down the winding road hitting
other incoming vehicles.
LOBOC's
ACTION
Loboc
Mayor Leon Calipusan convened the town's police last Monday
to immediately address the concern raised by tour operators
after the incident.
During
an interview over dyRD's top-rated Inyong Alagad yesterday,
Calipusan said that two policemen are now being detailed at
the floating restaurant's docking area to enforce a one-side
parking policy.
A
designated free parking area near the town's new public market
is also provided to reduce the congestion in the narrow highway.
While
some river cruise operators do not have parking spaces, Calipusan
appealed to tour operators not to drop and pick up tourists
near the docking area.
Calipusan
pointed out that once the floating restaurants will be docking
at the new port and tourist complex across the present docking
area the congestion will be solved.
River
cruise operators have not transferred docking to the new facility
as the Bailey bridge going to the complex has yet to be repaired
to accommodate big tourist buses.
According
to Calipusan, funding, in the amount of P1.5 million, has
been released for the bridge rehabilitation but the DPWH was
not able to start the rehabilitation until election ban came.
Meanwhile,
a motorcycle backrider was killed after colliding head-on
with a tourist bus of NF Tours at the Tagbilaran City Port
last Tuesday.
The
victim, Leandro Ayade, 19, a resident of barangay Minol, Mabini
town, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Gov. Celestino
Gallares Memorial Hospital.
According to SPO3 Joaquin Adayo, the victim was riding with
one Jesus Bandoy, 23, of barangay Dasitam, Baclayon, owner
of the motorcycle. Bandoy did not have any serious injuries
while Ayade died on the spot.
The
tourist bus was driven by one Wenceslao Escuadro Jr., 37,
resident of barangay Salvador, Cortes town. He is now facing
charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide.
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