7 aircon buses to boost tourism drive in P’sinan

LINGAYEN – Seven brand new air conditioned buses were purchased by the provincial government and inaugurated Thursday to boost tourism promotion of this scenic province.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr. led the inauguration while provincial workers were in awe seeing for the first time such top of the line buses to transport Pangasinenses in discovering tourist spots as well as religious and historic sites of the province.

Espino said the brand new air conditioned buses cost more than P4 million per unit.

The seven eco-tourism buses and coaster were turned over to the provincial government by the Laguna-based bus manufacturer, Phil-Hino Corp., which supplies fleets of Fariñas Lines and Santrans.

Espino said this is the first batch of the buses intended for Lakbay Aral (study tour) of various sectors in Pangasinan.

All the units sport a spanking color of golden yellow accentuated by metallic gold. The buses share the colors of all newly-refurbished and renovated buildings inside the capitol complex, including the ongoing renovation projects of the provincial government’s seven agriculture farm stations and 14 public hospitals.

“When I assumed office as your governor, I told you that we will make Pangasinan a tourism area among ourselves first,” he said.

He said he aims to make Pangasinenses know and learn about Pangasinan first, before they set foot to other provinces for their vacation or leisure.

“Having these buses is one medium I could use,” he said.

In preparation for an all-out tourism campaign, the provincial government has trained a group of 50 new tour guides for the capitol complex and other tourist destinations in Pangasinan.

Espino believes that the Capitol building and its environs, which include the Maramba Boulevard, the World War II Memorial and the Lingayen Beach, will become the centerpiece of tourism in Pangasinan.

In his recent state of the province address, the governor underscored that the tourism industry will become one of the top earners in the province. Pangasinan’s population of 2.6 million is itself considered a captive market, he said.