Infrastructure projects set to propel development, small businesses in Ilocos – PBBM

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is optimistic about the ongoing major infrastructure initiatives in the Ilocos Region, foreseeing their significant contribution to rural progress and the bolstering of small businesses nationwide.

At the inauguration of the Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Pagudpud last Friday, President Marcos outlined the current government’s infrastructure endeavors aimed at catalyzing tourism in the region.

“These projects are not only aimed at expanding tourism but also at fostering rural development, thereby strengthening the tourism sector,” President Marcos emphasized to the attendees.

“I am confident that these promising developments will act as a catalyst for further tourism success in Ilocos Norte and the Philippines going forward,” he asserted. Among the projects highlighted by the President is the forthcoming construction of the Ilocos Norte Transportation Hub in February 2024. This hub is poised to mitigate urban traffic congestion and seamlessly integrate various transportation modes upon its projected completion next year.

Additionally, the government is actively advancing the enhancement of the Laoag International Airport, particularly focusing on expanding and rehabilitating the runway to accommodate larger aircraft and attract more tourists to the region. Simultaneously, funds have been earmarked for the construction of new bridges and the Pancian Viaduct along the Manila North Road to enhance road safety.

The key industries in Ilocos Norte encompass tourism, agriculture and fisheries, food processing, and furniture manufacturing. In the previous year, Ilocos Norte accounted for over 20 percent of tourist arrivals in Region 1, welcoming more than 3.5 million same-day visitors in 2023.

Some of the prominent tourist destinations in the province include the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos, Balaoi Beach in Pagudpud, Malacañang of the North in Paoay, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos, Saud Beach in Pagudpud, the Sand Dunes in Paoay, and St. Augustine Church in Paoay.