Tourism Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco announces tourism projects in Negros Oriental during her speech at the Dauin Hyperbaric Chamber groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 3, 2025. (KAT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
DAUIN, Negros Oriental (PIA) – More than P450 million will be spent to develop roads leading to tourism sites in the province to improve the accessibility of these tourist destinations.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco said that the road development project would be implemented in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under its tourism road infrastructure program.
Frasco said it is essential to implement road development first so that it would open livelihood opportunities for tourism frontliners such as tour guides, tour operators, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and vendors.
She added that Negros Oriental could expect more tourism projects from the national government, one of which is the construction of the P80-million hyperbaric chamber in Dauin.
The tourism secretary led the groundbreaking of the site where the hyperbaric chamber will be built in District 1, Brgy. Poblacion.
The project, funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), is eyed to be operational in three months’ time.
TIEZA Assistant Chief Operations Officer Jetro Lozada said the equipment is already in Manila and will be shipped to Negros Oriental once the construction of the facility is completed.
Meanwhile, medical personnel and other staff are now being trained to handle the machine.
Frasco said the establishment of the hyperbaric chamber here will make the diving experience safer and more secure for divers.
It will also boost Dauin town’s reputation as a top dive destination in the Philippines.
Dauin is home to Apo Island, a popular diving site due to its magnificent corals and pawikans like the green turtles and hawksbill turtles.
Once the hyperbaric chamber is operational, divers who will suffer from decompression sickness will no longer have to be brought to Cebu for treatment.
Another project seen to rise in the province is the New Dumaguete-Bacong International Airport.
“Ubos sa administrasyon sa atong presidente, iya gud gihatagan og prayoridad ang turismo (Under the administration of our President, tourism is a priority). In terms of tourism infrastructure investment, in December of last year, the president, and the governor and other officials witnessed the signing of a contract for the development of Dumaguete-Bacong Airport which will span nearly 200 hectares and which will bring in investments of over P17 billion,” Frasco said.
The new airport will provide added connectivity and ensure that tourist activities here will continue to flourish.
Based on the data of the Provincial Tourism Management Executive Board, tourist arrivals in the province reached 700,000 in 2024, which is an increase from 2023 with 250,000. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
