BACOLOD City – The National Economic and Development Authority Board Regional Development Committee-Visayas Area Committee (NB RDCom-VAC) is pushing for a Visayan Tourism Highway.
Bacolod City’s Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez disclosed that the committee is discussing establishing a Visayan Tourism Highway, crossing the eastern part of Visayas to the western side, or vice versa, at the fastest time possible.
The mayor was elected NB RDCom-VAC chairperson on June 7 at the Seda Vertis North, Quezon City. In December last year, he was installed as chairperson of the Regional Development Council in Western Visayas.
“Kay gusto ta man makita ang east, ang Bacolod makadto sa Samar, Leyte, kag ang Leyte man makadto sa aton. This is how to interconnect ang fragmented nga geographical feature sang Visayas para we can share economic development,” added the mayor.
The proposed Visayan Tourism Highway was pushed in the House of Representatives by the Visayan bloc back when Benitez was Negros Occidental’s 3rd District Representative.
Benitez added they are planning to hold a festival to be participated in by regions 6, 7 (Central Visayas), and 8 (Eastern Visayas).
Bohol Gov. and RDC-7 chairperson Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Ormoc City Mayor and RDC-8 chairperson Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez were elected as co-chairpersons of the NB RDCom-VAC.
According to Benitez, the committee also plans to conduct a big trade convention to promote Visayan products.
He expressed gratitude for the trust and confidence given to him by his fellow committee members. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable and inclusive development for the Visayas./PN