TIEZA to build tourist rest area along Kennon Road

The state-owned Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) in partnership with the city government will be putting up a so-called tourist rest area along the stretch of Kennon Road within the city’s jurisdiction to help in providing more tourist attractions.

City Planning and Development Officer Arch. Donna R. Tabangin stated that TIEZA will be providing the P7 million fund for the proposed tourist rest area structure while the local government will be shelling out some P5 million as its counterpart for the site development.

Further, she said that the city government will be entering into a memorandum of agreement  (MOA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the latter to allow the use of the area for this purpose because the site for the proposed tourist center is a titled property of the agency.

She disclosed that the proposed tourist rest area will include a pasalubong center, an information center, a view deck and toilets for the visitors wanting to drop by the area and have a view of the whole stretch of the scenic zigzag road from its highest elevation.

The site of the said structure will be located just above the lion’s head to ensure that visitors can view the stretch of the road from their vantage point at a higher elevation.

The said partnership is part of the ongoing efforts of the national and city governments to gradually and safely revive the heavily impacted economy by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Tabangin said that the city government is simply awaiting the decision of the DENR on the proposed contents of the MOA for it to be finalized and signed for TIEZA’s needs in constructing the proposed tourist rest area along the strategic portion of Kennon Road. – Dexter A. See