The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte district engineering office has completed the construction of a tourism road leading to Guinsaugon Lake in Saint Bernard town, a popular destination among mountaineers in Eastern Visayas.

The PHP9.8 million newly-paved road with a length of 0.667 kilometer, has a width of 6.10 meters and thickness of 0.23 meters. This is a convergence project between the Department of Tourism and DPWH.

The project that converted a gravel road into concrete started on Feb. 28, 2021 and was completed this week, according to DPWH Southern Leyte district engineering office chief Manolo Rojas in a statement sent to reporters on Thursday.

The government pushed for the road concreting since the site is ideal for group camping and mountain trekking.

“Our office has always prioritized the development and upgrade of road networks, particularly those access routes that help position the province’s tourism hotspots upfront, as well as assisting less-developed areas in maintaining the viability of their local businesses,” Rojas said.

Saint Bernard is a 4th class town situated in Southern Leyte’s Pacific area primarily dependent on agriculture and fishing.

The lake is within the Guinsaugon village where over 1,100 died on Feb. 17, 2006 when a landslide buried the entire community.

“We are optimistic that the new road will not only make travel more comfortable for residents and tourists, but would also provide enhanced links between farming and fishing communities and commercial hubs in the province,” Rojas said.

Other tourism sites in Southern Leyte with upgraded access road this year are Fatima Hills in Macrohon town, Crater Lake in San Juan town, Ollies Wall dive site in Liloan town, and Bird Sanctuary and Mangrove in Saint Bernard town. (PNA)