Loboc River is ‘nature by day, boulevard by night’
By Kit Bagaipo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:53:00 05/31/2008
LOBOC, Bohol – Scenic Loboc River in Bohol has something new to offer to guests who want to experience the rustic environment that has popularized river cruising in Loboc town, which is fast becoming a tourist destination.
The Bohol provincial government’s aggressive promotion of ecotourism, along with the benevolence of Chinese businessman and Philippine Special Ambassador to China Carlos Chan, have made possible night cruises aboard floating restaurants on the Loboc River.
Aptly dubbed by town Mayor Leon Calipusan as “Nature by day, boulevard by night,†the river lighting project, which costs P13.5 million, is said to be the first of its kind in the country.
As the project’s main feature, some 450 lampposts and floodlights were installed along the lush green riverbank, stretching almost three kilometers from the frontage of the centuries-old Loboc Church toward Busai falls.
The Jesuit-built old stone church itself is beamed with floodlights creating a spectacular reflection on the river’s calm water. The two bailey bridges crossing the river are also lit up.
The play of lights lends a romantic air to the night cruise while one enjoys a dinner buffet of native food aboard the floating restaurant.
Known as the music capital of Bohol, the municipality of Loboc is home to the world-acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir. If one is lucky, a local band is on board the floating restaurant to render soft music.
This music-loving town started the “river-cruising-aboard-floating-restaurants†business some 13 years ago. It became an occasional side trip for tourists who come to Bohol either for its pristine white sand beaches or its world-renowned Chocolate Hills.
Now, tours would not miss the experience of Loboc River Cruise as the town lies along the path from the popular resorts of Panglao Island going to the Chocolate Hills.
According to Calipusan, the daytime river cruise attracts an average of 800 guests daily. The volume made it hard for the floating restaurant operators and the municipal government to manage the traffic and congestion at the river.
A year ago, a floating restaurant operator introduced a downstream cruise, to get away from the congestion on the regular upstream route.
The municipal government likewise embarked on the construction of a modern 120-meter docking port for all the floating restaurants which is complemented by an eco-tourism center that houses the tourism office, a visitors’ lounge and air-conditioned comfort rooms. The project cost about P10 million, which was in part funded by Chan, who is also special ambassador of the Philippines to China.
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