Bohol’s first Tourist Rest
Area set to rise in Dauis

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 9 (PIA) –The first of Bohol’s Tourist Rest Area (TRA) would soon rise beside the Dauis Tennis Court in Poblacion Dauis, as Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and Dauis mayor Roman Bullen signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the structure December 7, that would get tourists a good reason to stop by the town.

Secretary Fransco, who came in with her entire DOT assistant and undersecretaries, including its attached agency in the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprises Zones Authority and its officials said the facility may be first in Bohol for now but assured that more TRAs would be set up here, considering how important Bohol is in the country’s tourism map.

TRA is a facility that houses a tourism information center, a pasalubong center and souvenirs, coffee shot, charging stations as well as maintains a clean, comfortable and dry restrooms, Secretary Frasco said.

Funded by the DOT under its TIEZA, the tourism infrastructure arm of the government, the TRA in Bohol is part of the ten TRAs initially set to be constructed within the year, as the DOT translates President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of making the country a tourism star in the region, Sec Frasco said.

The DOT has already built the same TRAs using local materials in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, in Samal Island in Davao del Norte, in Carmen and Medellin in Cebu, in Baguio City, Roxas in Palawan and would soon also build one in Ilocos.

Representing Dauis town, Mayor Roman Bullen said now there is another reason why tourists would have to stop by the town, because of the TRA.

According to Sec. Frasco, the TRA in Dauis is strategic as it is sits midway between Panglao and the tourist destinations in Bohol and would be a convenient stop by for tourists transiting the destinations.

The Tourist Rest Area is one of the flagship programs of Secretary Frasco and is grounded on the Department’s vision to provide convenience and comfort to tourists.

Also a translation of the President’s pronouncements during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the need to promote an enhanced Filipino brand, the Tourist Rest Areas adopt the use of local materials and design elements, the secretary who is among Marcos cabinet leaders said.

With the MOA, the LGU would be responsible for the maintenance of the place.

On the other hand, the DOT serves as the overall monitor and evaluator of the project as its primary concept originator.

Upon turnover, the LGUs are permitted to lease part of the facilities to the private sector to recover the cost of its upkeep. (PIA-7/Bohol)

GROUND BREAKING AND CAPSULE LAYING. DOT secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco leads the DOT and local officials in the ceremonial ground breaking of Bohol’s first TRA, a tourist facility that operates as a tourism information center, pasalubong hub, restroom stop, charging hub and a place where tourists can stretch their legs after a tiring Bohol tour. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

TRIPARTITE MOA. DOT Sec Christina Garcia Frasco and Dauis Mayor Roman Bullen show the signed MOA on the TRA with the TIEZA, vice mayor Mirriam Sumaylo and Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado as witnesses. Dauis would be the first town in Bohol to get and operate a DOT facility once it would be completed and turned over to the LGU. (RAHC/PIA_7/Bohol)