Prov’l. government turns over new water tourism facilities to Bulusan town

By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA)….  A P2.9 M worth of new water tourism facilities comprising of  10  kayaks; 3  rowboats with 6-8 person capacity; 2 patrol boats; 8 aqua trike with two person capacity and 4 more row boats with a maximum 4 person capacity each were turned over by the Sorsogon provincial government to the local government of Bulusan this week to drumbeat the activities that tourists will love and enjoy to go around the lake of Mt. Bulusan and to give life to the tourism monicker "It's more fun in the Philippines."

All these boats were made of fiberglass and sizes vary depending on the number of tourists who would like to avail as each has specifications for the number of persons who will occupy the boat.

According to Cristina Racelis, tourism officer designate of the province of Sorsogon, these new water facilities were still part of the tourism initiatives made way back during the time of former governor Sally Lee but was only now acquired due to the technical descriptions to be followed as prescribed so as to fit in and be adaptive to the environmental scenery of the place. 

Racelis said that all these boats were made of fiberglass and sizes vary depending on the number of tourists who would like to avail as each has specifications for the number of persons who will occupy the boat.

Governor Raul R. Lee, together with USEC Antonio Cleto of the Department of Agriculture (DA); Jose Dayao, regional director DA RFU 5, former governor Sally A. Lee, Sanggunian Panlalawigan Tourism committee chair, Eric Ravanilla turned over the facilities to Bulusan mayor Michael Guysayco in the presence of the local residents and some visitors coming from abroad.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the provincial government and the local government of Bulusan as to the use and manner of safekeeping.

According to mayor Guysayco, the additional water tourism facilities were the complimentary facility provided by the provincial government especially now that the road component going to Bulusan has been already completed through the national government initiative, improved and made safe which means accessibility to their town by tourists will be made more fast and easy.

Guysayco also in his message thank the national government in looking into the tourism value of local governments and the livelihood opportunities that will trickle down to basic communities and the hope of people to also interface with other people coming from different places and countries according to Guysayco.

The province of Sorsogon has been known as one of the best ecotourism sites globally with the presence of the famous whale shark of Donsol,and with the add on water equipments in Bulusan Lake, the local government of Bulusan expects this year more tourists influx from both the local and international scene visiting one of the best scenic sites of Sorsogon, the Mt Bulusan Volcano Natural Park. (IAG/PIA Sorsogon)