Butuan City - The Mainit Kasili Lakeside Resort, a new tourist draw at the side of scenic Lake Mainit, is seen to spur tourism not only in Mainit town in Surigao del Norte province but the entire Caraga region as well, officials said Friday.

The Mainit Kasili Lakeside Resort has 56 fully-airconditioned rooms, three swimming pools, a convention center, two videoke bars, a tennis court, and a restaurant offering dishes made from fish caught in Lake Mainit, one of the largest lakes in Mindanao where the popular "kasili" or electric eel can be found.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited this resort early this week.

Elated over the efforts of the local government unit headed by Mainit Mayor Ramon Mondano, the President made a financial contribution for the resort to establish more facilities for tourists.

“The noble project of the LGU here will surely boost the tourism industry not only in the municipality of Mainit, but the entire Caraga Region as well,” said Press Secretary Crispulo J. Icban, Jr. who accompanied the President here.

The President and her party were able to view the resort facing the majestic Lake Mainit, the fourth largest lake in the country.

Meanwhile, Mondano said Friday among the future plans of the resort is to promote wakeboarding and jet skiing in Lake Mainit to replicate the wakeboarding craze at the Camarines Water Sports Center in Bicol.

"Lake Mainit is a perfect place for wakeboarding and jet skiing because of its calm waves and water current," said Mondano.

"Lake Mainit is a perfect place for wakeboarding and jet skiing because of its calm waves and water current," said Mondano.

In another development, President Arroyo vowed to bring quality education to Filipino youths by establishing and upgrading facilities of all state colleges and universities nationwide.

This is the meat of the President's speech highlighting the Mindanao Agribusiness Tour in this province held at the Engineering Building of Surigao del Norte College of Agriculture and Technology (SNCAT) in Barangay Magpayang here on Tuesday.