By Johnny C. Nuñez
LEGAZPI CITY — Albay has shifted its already strong and accelerating development thrust this year to an explosive ‘Albay Boom” mode from its ‘Albay Rising’ battle cry, and banks on a P2.243 billion outlay for infrastructures to support its comprehensive and holistic tourism program.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the province this year aims for a Tourism Boom; Arts, History and Culture Renaissance; infrastructure modernization; single digit malnutrition, get within the Top 20 of the National Achievement Test towards Top 10 in 2016, win the Feb. 2014 Palarong Bicol for its Sports and Well-Being Program, new members for the Almasor Tourism Alliance, and rich agriculture.
Salceda said they expect a windfall from the onrush of Chinese tourists, which starts with the opening of the Albay International Gateway this month towards the much anticipated Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2016 for which the province is hosting at least three ministerial meetings.
The initial target for 2014, he said, is to welcome the first batch of Chinese tourists from Xiamen via chartered flights through the Albay International Gateway by January 30, which unlocks a 50,000 market within the year, 80,000 in 2015, 110,000 in 2016 and 150,000 in 2017.
Albay has also embarked on a strong Arts, History and Culture Renaissance program needed by the expected influx of tourists, side by side with modern infrastructures. A proposal has been submitted to the UNESCO to declare Cagsawa Ruins Park as a world heritage site.
As convenor of the Almasor (Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon) Tourism Alliance, Salceda said they have started collaborations with new prospective members such as Catanduanes and Camarines Sur through the Bicol Regional Development Council, which he chairs.
The governor said the province will also pursue more strongly its health and poverty alleviation programs that it has started to ensure a single digit malnutrition rate within the year.
Of the P 2.243 billion infrastructure budget, Salceda said some P421 million goes to the Guicadale (Guinobatan-Camalig-Daraga-Legazpi) Economic Platform, the key geostrategic intervention of Albay for spatial integration of its upland areas suitable for settlements and commercial development around the Bicol International Airport (BIA), seen to be completed by 2017.
The Albay International Gateway uses the refurbished Legazpi Airport, and arranged CIQS (customs, immigration, quarantine health, quarantine agriculture and security).
Salceda said the Guicadale expands Albay’s land area potential for development by 81,123 hectares. The Guicadale road projects are included in the 2014 General Appropriations Act.
The Almasor Roads projects have likewise been included in the 2014 General Appropriations Act, amounting to P385 million, and involve five major infrastructures. Another P365 million outlay, he said, has been earmarked for the One-Step Program with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Tourism, with Daraga town as pilot area; while a P187 million budget has been earmarked for the Tourism Industry and Economic Zone Authority development.
The other infrastructure projects in Albay include the San Fernando-Oas-Daraga Diversion Road with P215 million; Albay West Coast Road, P 150 million; the Flood Control and Mitigation for Legazpi City and the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management (Albay section); the Bicol Express-Mayon Ltd. of the Philippine National Railways; and the Pantao Road Project.
Under its Sports and Well-Being Program, Salceda said Albay aims to regain the championship in February 1-8, 2014 Palarong Bicol.
For 27 years, the province suffered a prolonged drought and only became champion in 2011 and 2012 but succumbed once more to Camarines Sur in 2013. PNA