Rest stops on all major highways soon a reality

Dying to get off the bus to take a leak or stretch

your legs midway through a nearly two-hour long

drive from Kalibo Airport to Caticlan where youre

off to bask under the sun and wade in the crystal

clear waters of Boracay?

Worry no more as clean restrooms will soon be found

along the roads leading to Caticlan in Aklan and in all

major highways of the country through the efforts of the

Philippine Tourism Authority.

PTA general manager Lito Banayo has bared that

realizing this long felt need of foreign and domestic

travelers appears bright with Congress showing positive

response to allocate additional funds for the project.

In a hearing of the Senate finance sub-committee chaired

by Sen. Robert Jaworski, Banayo disclosed that the

House committee on appropriations has favorably

considered the allocation of funds to augment PTAs

meager allocation from the travel tax collection in order to

finance the construction of rest stops along the countrys

highways.

Instead of waiting sheds and beautification of plazas

which are really local government concerns, we

convinced the congressmen that strategically located

rest stops will serve tourism purpose better, Banayo

said.

Banayo appealed to the Senate to support the project

and Sen. Jaworski who used to chair the Senates

tourism committee endorsed it.

The rest stops, which will have a tourist information map

outside, will be designed along tropical lines with an

easy-to-maintain indoor garden that will likewise provide

better cross-ventilation.

The PTA has already submitted the designs to Rep.

Emily Lopez, finance sub-committee chair, who in turn

endorsed the project to her colleagues including Rep.

Gualberto Duavit, chairman of the House Appropriations

committee.

Local government units, with the assistance of their

congressmen, will provide the sites, and the water supply

for the rest stops.

Minimal fees may be charged to ensure proper

year-round maintenance and cleanliness.