Private sector urged to invest on coastal highway project

PHILIPPINE Tourism Congress president Rosanna Tuason-Fores urged the private sector to invest in the establishment of a Pacific coastal highway that will boost the region’s cruise tourism.
Fores, also the chief executive officer of Hijo Resources Corporation (HRC), said the loop can start from the 760-hectare property owned by Tuason family located at Barangay Madaum, Tagum City.
“We want to develop a Pacific Coastal Highway that will connect the heart of Davao Gulf which is Hijo, all the way to other destinations in Davao Oriental and Surigao,” Fores said.
The coastal highway will then proceed to Davao region’s surfing center Mati City, Unesco World Heritage’s Hamiguitan Forest and all the way to the tip of Davao Oriental.
Fores said this can extend all the way to Siargao and Surigao since these areas have also beautiful coasts.
“This will boost the cruise tourism and will give more competitive edge to the region given that we’re closer to BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines- East Asean Growth Area),” she said.
Fores, who graced the opening of Start Min.Up exhibition at Gaisano Mall of Davao last Monday, said this area has a huge potential because more than four tourist destinations will be showcased.
“The creation of the loop is a proposed strategy that will develop further the tourism industry of these areas,” she said.
Development in the tourism industry, Fores said, will create inclusive growth in the community because it generate revenue to the government; and livelihood and employment to people in the community.
As president of the tourism congress, Fores is also advocating for the development of tourism industry in Zamboanga and parts of Tawi-tawi because of long stretches of beaches there.
She said the government should improve tourism infrastructure to boost further the tourism industry of the region. Cheneen R. Capon