DUMLAO BOULEVARD PROJECT, A LA MANILA BAYWALK

A P12-million funding for the improvement of the Dumlao Boulevard in Bayombong has been approved. The money will be used to install rustic pavers along the sides of the road, installation of park lights and stalls.

Vice-Governor Jose Gambito, the proponent of the project, said “we will be having our own baywalk in Nueva Vizcaya like what they have in Manila.”

He said this is one way of helping the youth turn away from drugs by coming out in the bright and open areas and not hide in the dark corners of the streets at night time where they fall prey to drug pushers and other evil elements of society.

Meantime, what has been a mere reforestation project of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in 1935 is now turning into a major tourism development project after the provincial government here allocated money to fund the Lower Magat Eco-tourism Park.

This is aside from a financial assistance to be given by the multi-national company now managing the power component of the Magat dam.

The park which now has huts, a firing range, and a log cabin, is envisioned to be the biggest tourism facility in the region which will cater not only to local tourists but also to visiting foreigners. Business stalls, a lodge, and an eco-trail is proposed for construction.

The park covers an area of 1,120 hectares of the 24 thousand hectares lower Magat watershed area which supplies a big volume of water for the Magat dam.

According to Governor Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, the eco-trail will bring visitors to a closer touch with nature, enabling them to see the old trees planted in 1935 with minimal human disturbance as the trail would follow the natural contours of the mountain.

“When the trail is finished, there will be sufficient signs to encourage trekkers to appreciate the beauty of nature and bring home the memory and probably wanting to come back,” Cuaresma said.#genaro b. basilio (GO-PAIAD)