Marinduque tourism infrastructure and new hotels, restaurants gearing up as tourism reopens

By-pass road in Boac includes the on-going construction of Santol-Lupac Bridge. 

This photo courtesy of Jkristian Dpaz

In Marinduque during the last decade, provincial and national government have invested quite aggressively in the development of needed infrastructure. Such that there’s probably little catching up to do now with neighboring provinces. 

A momentum has gathered all in support of serious tourism promotion and economic development initiatives.

For example, the new road project from the mountains of Boac to the steep slopes in Torrijos that has simply remained a pipe dream for more than six decades is nearing completion now. That includes the building of two bridges.

Boac interior through Brgy. Tumagabok, once regarded so remote it was seriously dreamt about only by politicos in the mid 60’s to establish a separate town there, but it never came to pass.

Now, barangays Hinapulan, Sabong and others in Boac to the West and Talawan, Sibuyao in Torrijos to the East are seeing four lane road projects in place.

Sections of the new winding road from Boac to Torrijos

NEDA has reported that in 2016, in support to the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, the provincial government of Marinduque strengthened the improvement of core and priority rural roads in the province.

Most of the priority road infrastructures of the provincial government  led to production and tourism areas.

In 2018, two road projects, the Caigangan-Bagtingon Road in Buenavista was accomplished, as well as the Boac-Mogpog via Tagwak-Danao, Mataas na Bayan Road.

New road construction and upgrading undertaken was the eight kilometer long Balanacan–Hinanggayon Road in Mogpog providing easy access to the Luzon Datum Marker of 1911, now a major tourist attraction, a convergence project of the DOT and DPWH.

With the new tourism access road built with an approximate cost of 180 million pesos (Phases 1 and 2), Luzon Datum has gained more visitors who want to experience a leisurely trip and capture souvenir photos taken right at the center of the Philippines.

Luzon Datum Marker is the geodetic reference center of the Philippines where all geodetic surveys in the country are referenced from, not to mention the reference point of all geographic positioning systems (GPS) in the globe.

Road to Luzon Datum

By-pass roads from Matandang Gasan to Pangi and Boac-Mogpog are on-going.  When completed, one can leave Buenavista and drive straight to Balanacan Pier without passing through the town propers of Gasan, Boac and Mogpog.

Other roads leading to and connecting tour destinations have also been recently completed: Brgys. Argao, Guisian Mogpog to Botilao (Sayao Bay,Hacupan Island); Brgy. San Isidro (Bagumbungan Cave) to Brgy Ipil (Bathala Cave), to name some.

Access is crucial in tourism development, hence, travel to and from Marinduque is also a concern: More seaports have been constructed and airport development for a bigger one is in the pipeline as well.

Marelco currently has supply capacity of 15 megawatts including the power barge to meet the peak load capacity of about 13 megawatts.  There is also a 3-megawatts generator in Torrijos currently in the testing phase that would increase the power supply in Marinduque.

PLDT has started connecting Marinduque to Batangas via submarine cable as it continues to improve telco service in the island-province following fiber optic deployment and clamor for it. 

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Encouraged by these strong official and private sector initiatives, developers have come in to invest some more in tourist facilities like hotels, resorts and restaurants.

We see the likes of new establishments in Boac, the capital town, such as Balar Resort and Spa, Hotel Marinduque, Hotel Zenturia, Marina Marinduque Hotel and Resort, Freedom Eco-Adventure Park, Happyroo Hotel and Restaurant in Gasan and Amara Resort and Beach Villas in Torrijos among others.

Balar Hotel and Spa

Hotel Zenturia

Noteworthy among newly established restaurants include Villa Negro in Argao, Mogpog, and there are  many more food establishmenrs in all the six municipalities.

Villa Negro Cafe in Argao, Mogpog

Other photos: Screenshots from BaRuzkie Reynes vids

Also read:

BBM family Marinduque visit; Call to push real tourism and pull all mining threats altogether

Bishop Junie Maralit: Poll results a 'slap in Church's face'

 

Bishop Junie Maralit

An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Friday the outcome of the last elections is "a slap in the face" of the Church's local hierarchy.

Boac Marinduque Bishop and CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communication Chairman Marcelino Antonio Maralit expressed his view in an interview posted in Caritas Philippines website.

The Church tacitly endorsed the presidential run of Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, referring to her as "the moral choice." Robredo lost badly to Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Maralit said the question now is "whether we have lost our voice as the hierarchy of the Church." "What happened to our voice? Is it because we're not that credible anymore, and sometimes it's very hard and very painful to ask that question, but credibility when it's a moral choice is based on your own moral ascendancy," he said.

Another possible explanation why the Catholic Church failed to convince the faithful into making the moral choice is that its hierarchy may already be "disconnected with our people," he said.

Maralit admitted that the results of the election is a "slap in the face to wake [the Church hierarchy] up to the reality that we should be really re-thinking about."

"Maybe we still have the morality and the moral ascendancy but our message does not reach the people... maybe we are not speaking the same language," the bishop said.

 

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. 

Bishop Maralit is Chairman of CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communication 

"Maybe we have already failed them by not listening to them," he added. "The election is just a phase of what our people were already telling us. It's really hard to give your message when the person is already disconnected and I think that is another question that we have to ask."

The Church must accept the challenge "to be instruments of not bringing out the message but bringing in the message to the church from the people," he added.

The trust of the people in the Church has never changed, said Maralit.

"When it comes to the pandemic response, specifically on relief, the people really trusted the Church because we were never questioned when it comes to relief."

Maralit believes this all changed when it comes to governance which was based on disinformation.

"Because the question on whether [Marcos] is credible or not was all based on information and now that was the issue that was played," Maralit said. "And that is where disinformation really did its damage to the Filipino people, I believe."

"So all the narratives that were supposed to create mistrust and distrust on the type of governance that he will offer were already changed because of disinformation which really worked," he said.

He said it is time for the Church to strategize.

"It's really not the problem of the Church. It's just something that we live by. We react. We usually respond when there is a problem. Instead of being proactive, sometimes we are always late. We have to also be preventive. In the sense that we should really start strategizing," Maralit said.

"After this, what do we say about the truth? How do we re-educate our people not only about the truth but also about their values? As a Church we really need to re-assess ourselves, especially the leaders and to rise from the ashes," he said.

This article first appeared in The Manila Times

Diocese asks next admin to declare Marinduque as ‘mining-free’ zone

 The Mogpog River in Marinduque province is one of the few tributaries of Mogpog town’s main watershed area. The river has suffered from recurring floods due to siltation caused by the collapse of the Marcopper Mining Corporation’s Maguilaguila siltation dam in 1993. Photo courtesyof Alyansa Tigil MIna

 

A Catholic bishop hinted his diocese will appeal to the incoming government to declare the island province of Marinduque a mining-free zone. 

Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. of Boac said the plan is to write to the Marcos administration to help them in their campaign to rotect the island’s environment and communities. 

“Then we will ask the national government to declare the province of Marinduque as mining-free,” Maralit said in a video interview with Caritas Philippines. 

According to him, about 83 percent of the small island is “mineable”. “And if we let the miners in, nothing will be left of the island,” he said. 

Marinduque is known as a cautionary tale about the environmental ravages of mining.

After the Marcopper mining tragedy in 1993, Mogpog River has been considered biologically dead, which, prior to the disaster, was valuable natural resource to villages along the river. 

Heavily silted with mine tailings, Boac River also suffered the same fate in 1996. 

Last month, a local court ordered the Marcopper Mining Corp. to pay damages claimed by persons affected by the country’s worst mining disaster. 

The mining firm was directed to pay P200,000 as temperate damages, P100,000 moral damages, and P1 million as exemplary damages to at least 30 plaintiffs. 

But the bishop called it only a ‘small victory’, adding that more cases against Marcopper remain pending for many years now. 

“There is still a long way to go for a total victory,” Maralit said.”But this small victory gives courage for all those who advocate for environmental justice.”

This article first appeared on CBCP News.

Also read a look back from March 2019:

Marinduque could soon be declared a mining-free zone

BBM family Marinduque visit; Call to push real tourism and pull all mining threats altogether

BBM family Marinduque visit; Call to push real tourism and pull all mining threats altogether

 

BBM and sons visit Bishop Rey Evamgelista at the Diocese of Boac. The disasters wrought by mining must have been recalled during the visit.

 

In April 2010, our newly-elected President Bongbong Marcos visited Marinduque, the Heart of the Philippines. To have a glimpse of the Holy Week traditions here.

He then gave a statement before the world that this island-paradise should be promoted as a major tourist destination, citing its vast resources and its natural beauty.

“Marinduque is known worldwide for its colorful Moriones Festival and that’s good, but it has so much more to offer…  that we must and will capitalize on to boost tourism, spur economic activities, and uplift the quality of lives of Marinduquenos”, BBM said.

Would-be First Lady, Liza,  with sister, Irene and BBM sons Sandro, Vincent and Simon  meet the Moriones.

I was in the middle of rehearsals to mount my passion play in Buenavista, when this blogger was suddenly tasked by the late Gov. Bong Carrion to which I of course, obliged to coordinate their visit with the municipalities.

Due to the tight schedule, the BBM family did not get to see a world-class resort here at that time, but which due to problems with the outdated airport eventually had to close down also.

But by May of the same year, CNN International reported that Marinduque could very well be “the next tourist hotspot in Asia”.

“For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper’s radar, but not for long if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven”, CNN reported.

“Luzon officials are also on a crusade to raise the area’s public profile”, and quoted BBM who said, “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches”.

Well, it is local politicos and private developers in Marinduque who had their way since then, paving the way for BBM to consider revisiting Marinduque now to see what has transpired here in terms of tourism infrastructure. (He and Inday Sara missed the province during the campaign).

Both candidates won here and throughout MIMAROPA also, you know.

 

Call for BBM

May we say to President BBM, that his wish for “the chance to lead efforts to make it a key tourism destination” really needs a little, just a little more push this time. 

Just a little lovin’.

Please come again soonest Mr. President.  But, but, before coming, be reminded that this tourism related dream of Marinduquenos and yours, too, may not truly come to pass if...

You see, there are yet unresolved issues that went on and on during the term of all seven presidents before you (unfortunately), in connection with protecting our people from the ravages of irresponsible mining. Sickness and death included.

But all our six municipalities, without exception in having their realization, have now joined persistent calls that lasted decades to declare small island-Marinduque a mining free-zone.

So, Mr. President, kindly push for real tourism here now, and decisively help pull all mining risks and threats in Marinduque altogether for once.

Marinduquenos are joyful in cheering for you! And we're not called the Heart of the Philippines for nothing.

Welcome back in advance!

Incumbent Boac Mayor Armi Carrion, the late Gov. Bong Carrion, Bongbong Marcos, Vice-Gov. Tom Pizarro

Also read:

Diocese asks next admin to declare Marinduque as ‘mining-free’ zone

BBM's wish for his chance to make Marinduque key tourism destination has finally come

 

Marinduque's Putong and Moryonan traditions with BBM family and sister Irene

“Marinduque should be promoted as a major tourism destination in Luzon because of its vast resources and natural beauty”, said then Ilocos Norte Rep. and then senatorial candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The recently elected President of the Republic of the Philippines fondly called BBM was visiting the province with his family to get a glimpse of the Moriones and some tourist attractions.

“Marinduque is a diamond in the rough, and I am looking forward to the chance to lead efforts to make it a key tourism destination through the establishment of modern infrastructure,” he said.

“Once the Marinduque air and seaports are modernized, a larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches, dive sites, trekking and hiking trails…” he said.

“Marinduque is known worldwide for its colorful Moriones Festival and that’s good, but it has so much more to offer in terms of world-class attractions and facilities that we must and will capitalize on to boost tourism, spur economic activities, and uplift the quality of lives of Marinduquenos,” Marcos said.

Sandro and BBM in Marinduque

All these were quotes from BBM in 2010, during a visit to Marinduque with his family with sister, Irene joining.

Marcos was pushing for a bigger airport and sea port in Marinduque to allow more local and international direct flights and cruise liners to come in.

But since then, thanks to the spirited efforts of then Representative and current House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco,  the people of the province has not seen numerous major roads and bridges and modern infrastructure  during the last 10 years as they have seen and continue to see now in the ‘Heart of the Philippines’.

The Speaker was joined by his father, Gov. Presby Velasco, Jr. only during the last three years as Governor with both father and son emerging victorious in the recent elections, the Governor through a resounding landslide victory and the Speaker through an uncontested victory.

BBM’s wish for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to lead efforts to make Marinduque a key tourism destination, therefore, has finally come.  It is now.

We distinctly remember that and this we await to be fulfilled!

BBM, Irene and former provincial administrator Juan Roberto Abling