ORIENTAL MINDORO — Motorists and visitors traveling across Oriental Mindoro can now enjoy safer and more comfortable journeys following the recent opening of the province’s designated Tourist Rest Area and Souvenir Stop (TRASS) in Barangay Batong Dalig, Socorro. Officially inaugurated on March 28 and fully operational as of Tuesday, April 7, the facility provides travelers with a secure place to rest during long drives while serving as a hub for local entrepreneurs to sell their goods.
The 24/7 rest stop, spearheaded by Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito A. Dolor alongside provincial and local officials, is a flagship initiative under the governor’s One Town, One Legacy Program. For years, motorists traversing the province faced the dilemma of having nowhere to take safe breaks, often resorting to pulling over under trees or staying briefly at roadside waiting sheds where access to basic facilities like toilets and food was unavailable.
Darwin Bequillo, a local travel content creator who frequently spends hours on his motorcycle, shared the difficulties of navigating the province without proper stopovers. “Bilang isang travel influencer dito sa lalawigan, isa sa pinaka-challenge sa akin ‘yung long ride. Yung sobrang pagod na pagod ka na, tapos dumadating pa ‘yung point na wala ka agad mapuntahan na specific na lugar para magpahinga ng konting oras [As a travel influencer here in the province, one of the biggest challenges for me is the long ride. You get extremely tired, and then there comes a point where there is no specific place you can immediately go to rest for a short while],” he said.
Bequillo noted that sourcing native goods was equally challenging during transit. “Wala din po talaga kaagad na makita na specific na lugar na bilihan ng mga pasalubong at mga produkto na gawang lokal [There is also really no specific place you can easily find to buy souvenirs and locally made products],” Bequillo lamented.
Provincial Tourism Officer Don Stepherson Calda explained that the project faced several hurdles before finally opening its doors to the public. “Ang TRASS na proyekto ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ay nasimula buoin noong 2019, ngunit sa kadahilanan ng pandemya at sa ilan pang mga hamon na naranasan ng Oriental Mindoro at ng buong Pilipinas, na-delay ang implementation ng proyekto [The TRASS project of the provincial government began conceptualization in 2019, but due to the pandemic and some other challenges experienced by Oriental Mindoro and the entire Philippines, the implementation of the project was delayed],” he said.
Following a resumption of the project in 2022 with fresh funding allocated through the Provincial Tourism Office, the facility finally materialized. Calda also said, “Simple lang ang gusto ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan, na ang tourist rest area ay maging lugar ng pahingahan o pansamantalang pahingahan ng ating mga motorist at bisita sa Oriental Mindoro [The Provincial Government’s desire is simple, that the tourist rest area becomes a resting place or a temporary stopover for our motorists and visitors in Oriental Mindoro].”
The newly operational stop features comfortable rest areas, clean toilets, food stalls, and expansive spaces to display local products. It also provides drivers a safe space to inspect their vehicles mid-journey before continuing their trips. Local leaders are optimistic about the economic opportunities the facility brings to the community, viewing it as a bridge connecting their municipality to passing visitors.
Barangay Captain Leticia Pita highlighted the immense economic potential the facility brings to her constituents. “Talaga pong malaki ang magagawang kabutihan niyan, ang pagkakaroon ng isang TRASS sa aming barangay [Having a TRASS in our barangay will truly do a lot of good],” said Pita. She added, “Ang mga kabarangay po namin ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na ang kanilang product ay maipakita hindi lamang sa Socorro, kung hindi sa buong Oriental Mindoro [Our village mates will have the opportunity to showcase their products not only in Socorro but throughout the entire Oriental Mindoro].”
While the rest area is now actively receiving motorists, local officials emphasized that continued coordination is required to ensure proper maintenance, continuous product development, and the sustained participation of local vendors. For travelers traversing the long roads of Oriental Mindoro, the days of relying on uncertain stops are over, as a dedicated sanctuary now awaits them on their journey.| (PIA)
