VIGAN CITY, July 17 (PIA) -- The municipality of Salcedo in Ilocos Sur is expecting a boost in its economy, specifically in its tourism sector, after various development projects in barangay  Baluarte, Salcedo were launched on July 16.

Salcedo Mayor Leopoldo Gironella, Jr. said Baluarte is known for its famous picnic site -- the Baluarte or “Sangbay” Falls.

“Kapag ma-boost ang turismo natin dito sa Baluarte, magkakaroon ng mas maraming hanapbuhay ang mga residente at lalaki ang ekonomiya ng barangay (The implementation of these projects will help provide more jobs to the residents, thus, boost the economy of barangay), Gironella said.

Development projects launched were concreting of P12 million-worth farm-to-market road, rehabilitation of P3 million-worth Barangay Health Center, construction of P1million-worth public toilet, and construction of P2 million-worth school building which are funded from the P20 million Local Government Support Funds (LGSF) of the national government under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP).

The remaining P2 million will be spent for the provision of assistance to indigent individuals and implementation of livelihood, technical, and vocational training.

As one of the barangays cleared of insurgency nationwide, he said this improvement will also change the perception of some people on the peace situation in the municipality.

“Kung maraming turistang darating, wala ng pagdududa para sa mga tao na pumasok dito (When more and more tourists visit Baluarte, travelers will no doubt visit the barangay)," he added.

Barangay Baluarte was cleared of communist terrorist group affectation last 2019.

In his message during the activity, National Security Adviser and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Vice Chair Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., also the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Region 1, expressed his gratitude to the provincial and local government of Ilocos Sur and Salcedo for their peace and development efforts to end insurgency.

"Sana'y talagang pakinabangan natin ang mga proyektong ito dahil ang inaasam lamang namin ay inyong kabutihan. Ang BDP ay dagdag lang sa mga programa ng provincial at local government. As this is direct to the barangay, we hope that you will enjoy a better farm-to-market road, school building, public toilet, and health center. Moreover, we hope we could get more of these projects not just in Ilocos Sur but in the whole of Ilocos Region,” Secretary Esperon said.

A serbisyo caravan was also held Friday afternoon wherein more than 100 residents received various assistance from the provincial government and various member-agencies of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster of the NTF-ELCAC. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)