Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the inauguration of the Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), Davao del Norte recently.
The TRA in IGaCoS is the third facility to be completed and turned over by the DOT to the local government units, subsequent to the TRAs in Medellin, Cebu, and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, which were inaugurated in 10 July and 04 August, respectively.
“We inaugurated a Tourist Rest Area in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), Davao del Norte, making this the second to rise in Mindanao under the Marcos Administration after the first one we inaugurated in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon,” Frasco explained.
Consistent with the TRAs earlier completed by the DOT and its infrastructure arm, the TIEZA – Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, this tourist facility in IGaCoS is equipped with free-to-use and traveler-friendly amenities such as clean restrooms, charging station, lounge area, and a lactation room for breastfeeding mothers.
The TRA also features a tourist information area and a pasalubong (souvenir) center for buying local crafts and products, making it a one-stop-shop for travelers who will be exploring the enchanting island destination.
“The Tourist Rest Area aims to enhance the overall tourist experience.”
“The Tourist Rest Area aims to enhance the overall tourist experience by providing a comfortable lounge, pasalubong/souvenir center to help our tourism MSMEs sell local their local products, clean restrooms with shower, charging station, PWD-friendly facilities, and lactation room for breastfeeding mothers,” the tourism chief said.
Present during the ribbon cutting and ceremonial handing over of the TRA with Frasco are IGaCoS Mayor Al David Uy, MARINO Partylist Representative Sandro Gonzalez, TIEZA – Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Board of Director and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Sec. Maria Belen Sunga-Acosta, DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, DOT-11 Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan, and TIEZA Assistant Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) Gregory Oller.
As may be recalled, the tourism chief broke ground on TRAs in strategic locations nationwide, in a bid to provide comfort and convenience to travelers when accessing the country’s tourism destinations as part of the Department’s contribution to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s directive to enhance the overall tourist experience.
“This is the 3rd of 10 Tourist Rest Areas we have put up in partnership with TIEZA and our LGUs, with 15 more to come.”
“This is the 3rd of 10 Tourist Rest Areas we have put up in partnership with TIEZA and our LGUs, with 15 more to come,” Frasco said.
Other TRAs that will soon be completed and inaugurated include Baguio City; Dauis town in Bohol; Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte; the municipalities of Carcar, Carmen, and Moalboal in Cebu; as well as Roxas in Palawan.
