The Department of Tourism (DOT) will open tourist rest areas (TRAs) in the cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay in southern Negros Occidental as part of the agency’s infrastructure support for key destinations in Negros Island Region.

Sipalay City supervising tourism officer Jerick Lacson said in an interview on Tuesday that they are now complying with requirements and awaiting the conduct of soil boring test before construction can proceed.

“Our proposed location is at Poblacion Beach, so it would be very accessible to visitors,” he added.

Last month, representatives from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority conducted an inspection and assessment of the proposed site for the TRA.

The Kabankalan TRA, the first in Western Visayas, is set for inauguration on Aug. 28, according to the city’s tourism office.

The facility in Barangay Hilamonan is envisioned to provide a safe, clean, and convenient stopover for travelers in the city and surrounding areas.

Initiatives such as the TRAs were among the priorities discussed during a meeting between Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, with Sixth District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez and Sipalay City Mayor Maria Gina Lizares at the DOT central office in Makati City on Monday.

Alvarez thanked Frasco for the DOT’s support to her district, including the cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay, as well as the municipalities of Ilog, Candoni, Cauayan, and Hinoba-an, being positioned as premier destinations in the region.

In a news release, the DOT said the meeting between Frasco and the Negrense officials focused on exploring development opportunities and identifying areas for collaboration to further boost the province’s tourism sector.

Under the Marcos administration, the agency “continues to champion initiatives that advance regional connectivity, sustainable tourism, and infrastructure support across the Negros Island Region,” it added. (PNA)