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By Rommel C. Lontayao, Reporter
BUTUAN CITY: The city government has recently
introduced a unique cruise along the Agusan River to attract foreign
and domestic travelers seeking to explore the scenic places in the
Mindanao region, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said yesterday.
The department said that one of the special
highlights of the attraction is that visitors will be sailing along
the Agusan River, which is the country’s third longest, on board a
replica of a balanghai, a water vessel that dates back to some 1,700
years ago.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the proposed
project will surely help boost the tourism industry not only in
Butuan but also in the nearby Caraga provinces.
“We are always on the lookout for great
projects for tourists and this is one of them. We believe that this
will be a great attraction to both local and foreign visitors
because of the historical value of the balanghai,” Durano added.
He also said the Tourism Department provided a
P2.5-million support to the city government of Butuan to ensure
immediate operation of the cruise. Stopover stations and other
infrastructures are currently undergoing improvements.
The department said that once operational, the
Agusan River cruise would be one of the major tourism attractions to
be featured in the department’s Adventure Philippines campaign.
Two 30-seater balanghais will be available for
the cruise during its initial run. The boats have been designed to
include a dining area for the comfort of travelers.
The tourism agency also said that designated
stops along the route allow for dining and shopping for indigenous
products, as well as a visit to the Balanghai Shrine Museum where
pre-colonial balanghais that were first excavated are major
exhibits.
“In the long run, the local government will
encourage private sector participation for the further development
of the river stops and the construction of additional balanghais,”
noted the department Caraga Regional Director Leonides Theresa
Plaza.
Butuan’s river cruise project seeks to further
promote the Caraga region, which is composed of the provinces of
Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del
Sur, as a major tourist destination in Mindanao. At present, the
region is best known for the surfing activities in the island of
Siargao in Surigao del Norte.
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