BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan — A new access road to the St. Vincent Ferrer pilgrimage site in Barangay Bani, Bayambang, Pangasinan province, has been completed, enhancing connectivity for the expected surge of devotees during the upcoming Holy Week.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 1.3-kilometer road, costing PHP28.4 million, is a segment of the Bical Norte-Tanolong-Inanlorenza road line, aimed at boosting accessibility to cultural and religious landmarks.
Esperanza Tinaza, the department's information officer, highlighted the initiative as a crucial step towards facilitating access and preserving the pilgrimage site's cultural and religious significance. In a recent statement, she emphasized the project's role in accommodating the influx of visitors, particularly during significant religious observances.
Bayambang's tourism has seen remarkable growth, with the pilgrimage site as a focal point of interest since its inauguration in 2018. Rafael Saygo, Bayambang's tourism officer, in a phone interview, shared the positive impact of the new road on the site, which has become a magnet for faith tourism. In December 2023, the site, along with the town's Christmas Village inspired by Studio Ghibli's animations, attracted 197,000 visitors. The total number of tourists visiting Bayambang in 2023 soared to 345,674.
A key feature of the pilgrimage site is the 164.8-feet St. Vincent statue, which gained recognition from the Guinness World Records in 2019 as the tallest supported bamboo structure in the world. This accolade has further cemented the site's status as a significant religious and cultural destination.