GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the upgrading and expansion of its economic enterprises this year to generate more revenues.
Edgar Prias, general manager of the South Cotabato economic enterprises office, said Wednesday that preparations are underway for the implementation of various projects for the improvement of the province’s four main income-generating facilities.
He said these are the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center, South Cotabato Sports Complex and the Productivity and Technology (Protech) Center in Koronadal City and the Seven Falls in Lake Sebu town.
In 2018, the four economic enterprises generated an income of about PHP22 million for the provincial government.
Prias said they are targeting to start this year the installation of cable cars at the famed seven waterfalls of Lake Sebu.
“A soil testing was already conducted in identified sites to determine the suitability for the project,” he said in a media forum.
Aside from this, he said landscaping and development works are underway at the vicinity of the first waterfall.
Managed by the Seven Falls Project Management Unit, the site hosts a picnic area, canopy walk and zip line connecting three of the waterfalls.
Prias said a new air conditioning unit was already installed last month at the 5,000-capacity gymnasium.
He said its security and office personnel are set to undergo training to equip them on managing crowds during high-density activities.
The official said they are pushing for the replacement within the year of the rubberized track oval at sports complex.
“The governor (Daisy Avance-Fuentes) wants to put up exercises equipment along the sides of the oval and make it more accessible to the public,” Prias said.
For the Protech Center, he said they are currently negotiating with some private enterprises for the lease of available spaces at the Protech Center.