Right-of-way Issues Hamper Davao City's Road Projects for Tourist Sites

By Carmelito Q. Francisco, Correspondent, BusinessWorld Online

DAVAO CITY -- Expropriation proceedings are now under way in some parts of Davao Region to resolve right-of-way issues that have been hampering several road projects leading to tourist destinations.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Mariano R. Alquiza said some segments of the DPWH’s tourism infrastructure program, covering 15 projects with an allocated budget of P1.19 billion last year, could not be implemented due to the refusal of some land owners to accept the government’s offer for their property.

As of end-January 2015, overall construction work under the 2014 Department of Tourism (DoT)-DPWH Convergence Program was about 80% complete, Mr. Alquiza said.

The DPWH official declined to identify which projects are now under litigation through expropriation cases filed by the local government units concerned.

Most of the projects are secondary road networks that provide access to previously hard-to-reach tourism spots. The DPWH program list includes the following:

• Davao City -- Davao-Cotabato road leading to Eden Nature’s Park, Lacson-Megkawayan road leading to Megkawayan Park, Barrio Obrero roads leading to People’s Park;

• Davao del Norte -- Western and eastern sides of the circumferential road in the Island Garden City of Samal, coastal road from Panabo City to La Paz, Carmen leading to Mariculture Park, Baywalk, Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Mangrove Sanctuary;

• Davao Oriental -- La Union-Mt. Hamiguitan road leading to Mt. Hamiguitan

• Davao del Sur -- Road leading to Megkawayan Peak, and Kapatagan road leading to Mt. Apo Camp Sabros, Mt. Apo Highland Resort, and Tadaya Falls.

The DoT-DPWH program was established to facilitate a more efficient and coordinated effort between the two agencies for developing access to tourism destinations as identified in the National Tourism Development Plan.

2015 BUDGET

This year, the DPWH Region 11’s budget for tourism-related roads has been almost doubled to P2.2 billion with 30 projects lined up.

Davao del Norte is getting the biggest chunk at about P810 million; Davao City, P456 million; Compostela Valley, P330 million; Davao del Sur, P274 million; and Davao Oriental, P153 million.

Christine T. Dompor, tourism officer of Compostela Valley, said this is the first time that the province is getting road projects specifically supporting the local tourism industry and the provincial government is optimistic that there will be continuing infrastructure initiatives to help them attract more visitors.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. earlier said these proposed roads “are essential components and are needed infrastructure facilities in promoting the tourist spots of each province.”