SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Gubernatorial candidate and former public works secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. claimed that the reason why Zambales has not risen to the ranks of becoming a fully-developed province is that government officials here are focusing more on mining rather than tourism.

“We have beautiful and pristine beaches here that most foreign tourists find really attractive, why not focus on tourism where everybody would earn from it?” asked Ebdane.

“The reason why tourism should be the main priority of Zambales is that people would get involved in generating income, not just the businessmen who can capitalize in the mining industry. Even a small retail store could earn from the tourism business,” he added.

Ebdane said that to realize his dream, an access point must be made for tourists to enter Zambales, adding that the current route for tourists who came from Subic Bay Freeport is riddled with traffic especially during the summer months.

“An express lane must be made to make Zambales accessible to foreign and local tourists. Rather than going the usual route of Zambales which is through Olongapo, tourists should use the express lane to evade traffic and have more time to spend on frolicking on the tourist spots of Zambales,” he said.
Currently, the only two routes to Zambales from Manila is through Olongapo City and the Subic Bay Freeport. The widest road in Olongapo is only a four-lane roadway that only stretches from Rizal Avenue to the Freeport.