Visayas’ booster shot

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Agas agas bridge in So.Leyte. Photo by Henry Gadaingan
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines-Tourism officials in Eastern Visayas are keeping their fingers crossed that the filming of an Indian movie from Yash Raj Film, Bollywood’s biggest film company, will push through this January 2013 as the company has “signified” interest to shoot some scenes of the movie in the country.
Two landmark bridges in Eastern visayas region are candidates for the movie part of India’s epic action movie entitled “Dhoom3,” tourism regional director Karen Tiopes told Manila Standard.
“We are still waiting word from the production company. They actually identified 3 bridges: Agas agas, San Juanico, and another in Ilocos…Lets pray that either Agas agas or San Juanico is chosen. That would be a good promo for Eastern visayas as a film tourism destination,” Tiopes said.
The tourism director had already informed Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado and DPWH  District Engineer Carlos Veloso for possible rerouting at the bridge as Agas-Agas bridge will be closed for three consecutive days for filming from morning to afternoon.
In a separate report, Tiopes said that this development was the result of the Philippines joining the Locations Exhibitions Conference in Juhu, Mumbai, India, where the country earned recognition as the “Best New Entrant for the Promotion of Tourism through Indian Films.”
Built in 2009 and with the height of 292 feet above the ground, Agas Agas bridge in Kahupian, Sogod, So. Leyte is dubbed as the country’s tallest bridge. It is also now used as adventure park of the province with its extreme sports facilities such as the 880 meters zipline, cable cars and soon bungee jumping and all-terrain-vehicles sports.
Chamber president in Southern Leyte Engr. Robert Castañares , who helped initiated the launching of Agas-Agas adventure park along with Gov. Mercado thru Public Private Partnership said,  the plan would be a good exposure for province’s tourism “depending on the script or context of the story especially when it’s a positive portrayal  of the bridge as part of the ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ campaign.’”
Completed in 1973 during Pres. Ferdinand Marcos time, the San Juanico bridge connects Samar and Leyte islands stretching 2.16 kilometers and considered as the longest bridge in the country across a  sea.

Source: Manila Standard Today