By Apipa Bagumbaran

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon –Tourists traveling to Bukidnon and neighboring provinces can now make a safe and comfortable stopover at Mindanao’s first Tourist Rest Area (TRA), in Manolo Fortich, here, as the Department of Tourism (DOT) inaugurates the facility reccently.

DOT officials led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, DOT-10 Regional Director Marie Elaine Unchuan, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil Roque, Bukidnon First District Representative Jose Manuel Alba, and Manolo Fortich Mayor Rogelio Quiño graced the said event.

A flagship project of the DOT to provide convenience and comfort to tourists, the TRA is a convergence point that foreign and local travelers could approach to get information on tourism sites and attractions, activities, and accommodations, and to report concerns related to safety and security.

Frasco said the construction of TRAs in strategic locations all over the country is a fulfillment of the promise of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to give tourism development priority under his administration, to invest in infrastructure, connectivity, innovation, and digitalization, and to equalize tourism opportunities.

“Ang tumong ug tinguha sa atong Presidente kay aron mahatagan og higayon atong mga kaigsuonang Filipino nga makabenepisyo gayud sa turismo [The goal and desire of our President is to give an opportunity to our Filipino brothers and sisters to benefit from tourism],” she said.

The DOT chief said the Manolo Fortich tourist center is one of the 10 TRAs that commenced construction last year, of which some were already completed and others were in different stages of completion. This includes the TRAs in Ilocos Norte, Baguio City, Bohol, Palawan, Samal Island in Davao, and several in Cebu.

The Manolo Fortich is the very first to be completed and inaugurated in Mindanao.

According to her, DOT and its partners are breaking ground on 15 more TRAs all over the country in the hope of spreading countrywide development and progress through tourism.

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco says the Tourist Rest Area in Manolo Fortich seeks to provide comfort and convenience to the tourists to Bukidnon and neighboring areas. It is one of the 10 TRAs that commenced construction last year. Accordingly, 15 more TRAs all over the country will be constructed to spread countrywide development and progress through tourism.

The TRA features an array of amenities, including a coffee shop, a tourist information area, free charging stations, and free and clean bathrooms and shower facilities, all to cater to the needs of our weary visitors.

It also has a pasalubong center and souvenir shop where tourists can buy local crafts and products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), providing an opportunity for local communities to generate livelihoods and promote their prime tourism offerings.

“This TRA provides convenience sa atong mga turista aron malipayon ug hamugaway ang ilang biyahe. It has a comfortable lounge, a pasalubong center to support our local businesses and MSMEs so that they can sell their products,” Frasco said.

She added that the convenience it provides will encourage tourists to return to Manolo Fortich and Bukidnon Province. (PIA)