Pagudpud beach listed among world's 'most beautiful'

Saud Beach in Pagudpud (Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte Tourism Office)

MANILA – Saud Beach in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte was listed among the 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World by New York-based travel magazine Travel+Leisure.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) hailed the beach's inclusion, which is the only destination in the Philippines to make it to the list.

"The DOT salutes the sole Philippine entry to the list, joining the ranks of other globally-recognized beaches such as the Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Hanelei Bay in Kauai, Hawaii; Cape Le Grand National Park in Western Australia and others," it said.

The inclusion of Saud Beach in the international travel site’s A-list is a first for the coastal area of Pagudpud, also dubbed as the "Boracay of the North".

The T+L boasted of “its white sand pitches gradually into the clear-as-glass water, like a real-world example of a zero-entry swimming pool.” (By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora - PNA) 

 

Int’l cruise ship terminal to rise in Albay

By Emmanuel Solis  

 

LEGAZPI CITY – Another world-class travel facility that could be considered as a mega tourism project will soon rise in this city.

To be built is a terminal that will cater to international cruise ships. Passengers will have a full view of the majestic Mayon Volcano once the ships dock at the Albay Gulf.

Construction of the project will start as soon as the national government transfers an initial amount of PHP150 million to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol.

“We are just waiting for the submission of some documents by the Sunwest Construction Development Corporation and then the DPWH will issue a notice to proceed (NTP) to start the construction of the project,” DPWH-Bicol regional director Virgilio Eduarte said in an interview on Tuesday.

He said the cruise terminal project will be built along the Legazpi City boulevard that is adjacent to the newly-constructed Sawangan Park, which is now drawing hundreds of visitors every day.

Mayor Noel E. Rosal, in a separate interview said the project materialized after the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) approved the project proposal prepared by the city government.

“Because the initial construction of the tourism project had already undergone the bidding process, its construction works would now commence,” Rosal said.

TIEZA acts as the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) arm in providing support to infrastructure and facilitating investments in tourism enterprise zones across the country.

Rosal said the project includes the construction of a seaport that can accommodate a 300-meter long tourism cruise ship which is the standard size of international cruise ships.

“Upon completion of the project, Legazpi will be the second city after Tagbilaran City in Bohol to have an international passenger cruise ship terminal,” he said.

The cruise ship terminal, according to the mayor, will tremendously uplift the tourism industry in this city that could further boost tourist arrivals from different parts of the world.

The international cruise ship terminal is expected to attract more tourists because of its strategic location, as it lies between the serene Albay Gulf with a four-kilometer stretch boulevard and the panoramic, cone-shaped Mayon Volcano. (PNA)