Rep. George Arnaiz of the 2nd congressional district of the Negros Oriental has expressed optimism that the bills pending in Congress for the declaration of the Twin Lakes in Balinsasayao in Sibulan and the caves in Mabinay towns as eco-tourism destinations will be passed before his term ends in 2016.
Rep. Arnaiz disclosed that last week, the Committee on Environment at the Lower House had already approved that the Twin Lakes and Mabinay Caves be declared as eco-tourism destinations.
Once these are officially declared as eco-tourism destinations, the national government can now focus on the development of these sites which will then boost the socio-economy landscape of the towns and the province as well, he said.
Arnaiz thanked Rep. Pryde Henry Teves of the 3rd district of Negros Oriental in sponsoring the bills at the committee level so that these can be passed on to the plenary proper and hopefully, later on to the Senate.
The Negros Oriental solon stressed the need for national government, particularly the Department of Tourism, to place more emphasis and focus on the development of these sites as eco-tourism destinations through the allocation of additional funding.
Currently, the government has allocated an additional P50 million for the tourism road leading to Balinsasayao while another P100-million was given for the tourism road to the Mabinay Caves, Arnaiz said.
But, this is not enough as more projects are needed to develop these areas, he added. (PNA/jfp)
