The Department of Tourism (DOT) continues its push to improve traveler convenience as Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Lingayen, Pangasinan, on Thursday.

The facility, funded with PHP10 million under the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), will provide essential amenities such as a tourist information center, restrooms with persons with disability (PWD) and senior citizen access, a breastfeeding station, a charging and work area with internet, a dining space, and a Pasalubong Center. Sustainability features like solar-powered roofs and rain catchment systems will also be incorporated.

Frasco highlighted the DOT’s ambitious goal of establishing 100 TRAs nationwide, with 32 already under construction and 16 more planned for this year.

“(The project) is designed to provide convenience to the tourists so we are now on the process of building and breaking grounds and also having constructed 32 TRA all over the country and we are building 16 more this year. We are on the road to building 100 TRAs,” Frasco said during the ceremony.

Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III welcomed the project as this would further boost local tourism.

Pangasinan has recorded 8.7 million day tourists and over 430,000 overnight visitors in 2024.

This has brought the tourism industry in the province back to its pre-pandemic record.

The establishment of TRAs underlines the Philippine government’s dedication to elevating its tourism infrastructure and providing a comfortable traveling experience.

Meanwhile, Frasco said DOT continues its coordination with regional offices to ensure quality of hotel, resorts, and accomodations is up to global standards.

“We conduct random inspections of tourist enterprises especially the ones that are accredited by DOT,” she said. (PNA)