YAPO WATERFALLS. The Antique Provincial Board on Thursday (April 29, 2021) approves a resolution requesting PHP5 million from Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for the road concreting leading to the waterfalls in Barangay Yapo in Barbaza town. Board Member Noel Alamis, author of the resolution, said the Yapo Waterfalls is frequented by local tourists who love adventure. (Photo courtesy of BM Noel Alamis Office)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique Provincial Board on Thursday requested the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for a PHP5 million financial assistance for the concreting of a road leading to a tourist attraction in Barbaza town.
Provincial Board committee on tourism chairman Noel Alamis sponsored the approved resolution urging for a road improvement to make Yapo Waterfalls, one of the town's attractions, be more accessible to tourists.
Barangay Yapo, where the waterfall is located, is a kilometer away from the Poblacion or town center.
Alamis said the road project would not only benefit the 70 households of Barangay Yapo, but also other residents of Barangays Integasan, Narirong, and Tig-alaran as a concrete road would help speed up the transport of their produce to the town's market.
He said Barbaza municipality started the construction of the road using its local fund in the amount of PHP5 million last year, which was not enough.
“The PHP5 million budget of the LGU was only able to concretize 365 meters of the road,” he added.
The additional funding of PHP5 million being requested from the TIEZA, is estimated to cover additional 365 meters, leaving around 270 meters of gravel road leading to the waterfalls.
“The concrete road to be funded by TIEZA will be up to the area just before Kaligtugan River,” Alamis said as tourists need to cross the river before reaching the waterfalls.
He said the waterfalls with clean and gushing cold water attract visitors who love adventure.
“Barangay Yapo Captain Edward Española Kalagtag said the average number of tourists who take a bath at the Yapo waterfalls is 1,000 monthly,” he said. (PNA)
