The Laoag City government, in support of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) campaign on the improvement of tourism programs, has announced that it would improve and develop vacant shorelines in the city.

Laoag City Mayor Michael V. Fariñas said this new city government thrust would not only help the city’s tourism industry but would also serve as an additional income-generating project for the local government unit.

The said project would be for the city government to improve shorelines and offer it for rent to possible investors who may want to put up their businesses there.

Initially, the plan would be to construct simple cottages or sheds in the shoreline which would be free for the public to use. Eventually, possible investors might be attracted and they would then continue the development to whatever that might suit their business needs.

This plan, according to local executives, would immensely help the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which reportedly has no budget for shoreline development that made this agency turn over shorelines to local government units and even to private entities.

According to Fariñas, this would be feasible as he cited the Barangay Caaoacan project of former Laoag City Mayor Roger C. Fariñas where a two-hectare cactus farm has been established.

Fariñas also said he is hoping this endeavor would also attract big hotel chains to conduct their business in the city.

In view of this, Fariñas has instructed City Assessor Ruben Domingo to look for vacant and undeveloped shorelines in the city that would serve as project sites.

Domingo said he would coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as it is the government agency in charge of shorelines.

Dominic B. dela Cruz