The Floating Bahay-Kubo will be used by both local and foreign tourists in visiting the bird- watching sites in the coastal villages of Tortugas and Puerto Rivas.

The two floating boats were dubbed as bangkang pang-turista to attract visitors and to expose them the distinct view along the river that could be an unforgotten experience by everyone.

Bangkang Pang-turista will pass along the Talisay River from the Barangay Poblacion River Deck all the way through fishing villages to the Wetland Park in Tortugas, where the P5 million Infocenter was constructed by the city government.

The city is fortunate to be hovered with around 15,000 birds with 35 species of migratory birds regularly. Such migratory birds include Little Egrets, Purple Herons, Brahminy Kites, Peregrine Falcon, Chestnut Checked Starling, White Breasted Waterhens, Rails, Wood Sandpiper, Rufous Necked Stint, Grey Heron, and species of Kingfishers, flower peckers, and Sandpipers.

The regular hovering of the migratory birds in this coastal city had even caught the attention of Tourism secretary Ace Durano who led the close to 60 foreign tourists from Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea that attended the recently concluded 5th Bird Festival here.

Present in the blessing and ceremonial rites of the floating bahay-kubos are Mayor Garcia, Vice mayor Noel Valdecanas, Sangguniang Panglungsod members, city department heads, and some invited guests. [via mb.com.ph]