MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano on Tuesday inaugurated a tourist destination situated a few kilometers from the crash site on the slopes of the Mt. Sumagaya mountain range that borders Gingoog City and Claveria town.
With other local officials, Emano also led the Flight 387’s 23rd anniversary as he described the project as a “milestone that will cement Misamis Oriental into the tourism map of the Philippines.”
Emano in his message said the place of death and tragedy on a mountainous area in Misamis Oriental where a parcel of land near the Cebu Pacific Flight 5J387 crash site converted into a tourism complex and botanical garden.
A parcel of land is now becoming a thriving tourist destination in the province, said Emano.
“It aims to attract more tourists to come to Misamis Oriental,” said Emano.
The newest tourist destination is located at Barangay Lunutan, midway of Ginggog City and the municipality of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, according to Emano.
Emano said the complex “will also present new opportunities for livelihood for many Misamisnons due to the expected influx of tourists.”
Due to the area’s cold weather, the governor said the stretch of land located along Highway 955 between Gingoog and Claveria might as well become the summer capital of Misamis Oriental, if not the whole of Mindanao.
Emano said the complex was constructed using funds from the Energy Regulation (ER) 1-94, or the local government's share in the electricity sales of power-generating companies operating in the province, with a budget of P16 million in 2019.
Part of that fund came from German power producer Steag State Power Inc., which turned over P3.54 million to the provincial government as part of Misamis Oriental’s ER 1-94 share.
Emano said he would also show the Steag management “that the P3.54 million check that they entrusted to the provincial government on December 23, 2019, will never go to waste.
“We will implement it properly,” said Emano.
He also unveiled the project plan to the public during the turnover ceremony.
He said the shrine is now flooded with flowers around and other amenities to satisfy the needs of the tourists that will come to witness its scenic view.
Meanwhile, Tourism regional director Marie Elaine Unchuan supported the provincial government and encouraged everyone to preserve the said place.
“The Cebu Pacific shrines as it a sign of love and hope for the people in Misamis Oriental,” said Unchuan.
Unchuan said the Misamis Oriental Complex and botanical garden is a place of remembrance, a place of love, a place of hope.
“The place is perfect to meditate and thank God for the blessings and for the gift of life,” said Unchuan.
The said tragedy, according to Unchuan, also shows how resilient Filipinos are, adding that it’s not just a tourism site but it has a special meaning in the hearts of the people of Misamis Oriental. (Shiela Mae Butlig)
