PIA Press Release
2008/03/14
by Robert E. Roperos
Butuan City (March 14) -- Another tourists-drawer activity is set to be developed in the city, duplicating the world-famous "Loboc River Cruising" in Bohol.
This was announced by Caraga Region's Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Joseph Ace Durano during his visit to the city to grace the 13th year anniversary celebration of Caraga Region held recently in one of the local convention centers in this city.
Sec. Durano, in an interview with the local tri-media said that DOT has already given its share, through their regional office, amounting to P2.5 million for the immediate development and implementation of the Agusan River Cruise development project.
Sec. Durano added that with the success of the Loboc River cruise, it is possible that with the city's own version, same will happen or may even surpass Loboc's floating restaurants and river cruising, having drawn tourists from all the corners of the globe.
"One advantage of the Agusan River compared to Loboc River in Bohol is the area which is bigger compared to Loboc, considering that Agusan River is one of the longest rivers in the country, connecting Davao and Bukidnon rivers", Sec. Durano said.
When asked by the local media if the city government and the DOT have plan of dredging the river more particularly at the river's opening in the municipality of Magallanes, Sec. Durano said there is no need to do the dredging since the boats to be used as floating restaurants are not as big as barges that may cause a problem.
"We will only be converting two or three big pumpboats by connecting them, and from there, a restaurant will be constructed just like the floating restaurants in Loboc. So, there is no need to do river dredging", Sec. Durano said.
However, Sec. Durano said, additional infrastructure projects is expected to be constructed such as warfs that will serve as waiting areas for those who will experience river-cruising.
To date, Sec. Durano said, the local government, in collaboration with DOT Caraga Regional office is on the process of finalizing everything for the immediate implementation of the project. (PIA-13)
