By MARK FRANCISCO
FAST craft bound for Agutayan. A resort center along the shores of the lengthy protected area called Initao-Libertad Landscape and Seascape.
These are just some of the projects that Misamis Oriental tourism head Jeffrey Saclot disclosed that are in the offing for this year.
In the wake of the just concluded yearly Kuyamis festival and 94th founding anniversary of the Misamis Oriental, Saclot said Wednesday that the provincial government is not just sitting on its laurels but is working even harder to continue developing the tourist potentials here.
One of the key tourism projects of the province is the revitalization of Agutayan island off the shores of Jasaan town, Saclot said during a press conference organized by the government-run Philippine Information Agency at Limketkai Center.
In the long run, the revitalization of Agutayan island will include offering a speedboat service from Jasaan to Agutayan, snorkeling around the waters of the islet and a banana boat ride there.
For now, the bidding of the project is now in its finalization stage, Saclot reported.
Also calendared by the Misamis Oriental provincial tourism office is the transformation of the shoreline of the Initao-Libertad Landscape and Seascape protected area as a resorts haven.
“Daghang mga students ang ga-research sa mga flora and fauna and I think tourism can also play a role in this area. We are just securing the approval from the PAMB,” Saclot said, referring to the Protected Areas Management Board which supervises the protected area.
The existing eco-tourism site in the protected area for now is only the Lasang Secret Adventure which was developed by the Capitol in 2009. Now the plan of the provincial government under Gov. Peter Unabia is to extend the development shoreward.
The Initao-Libertad Landscape and Seascape is home to century-old trees and rare bird species such as the green imperial pigeon and the native dove.
Another major tourism plan on the horizon is to develop Sipaka Heights in Talisayan town not just as a Lenten destination but year-round.
Already, the provincial government hosted a paragliding event at Sipaka Heights last July but Saclot said that was just a start.
Saclot said that with the help of the city and municipal tourism officers all over the province, he is confident that the tourism sector in Misamis Oriental will continue to boom after the pandemic.
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