Santa Barbara Dam in Iloilo - Philippines
One of the beautiful sightseeing spots in the province of Iloilo, Santa Barbara Dam is a good place to visit to unwind and relax. This site is popular to residents in the place so tourists will not have difficulties locating it. As they reach the sightseeing spot, they can surely enjoy the alluring sceneries surrounding the place. In addition, the cost of visiting this place is affordable that budget travelers will not spend too much just to see the attractions at this tourist destination.
How to Get to the Sightseeing Spot
Located within the vicinity of Barangay Tungay at the Municipality of Santa Barbara in Iloilo, Santa Barbara Dam is very easy to find. Tourists who will be coming from Manila can ride in planes bound to Iloilo airport, or they can take boat trips going to Iloilo seaport. From the ports, there are taxis and jeepneys that can transport them to Santa Barbara. From the town proper, tourists should ride in jeepneys bound to Barangay Tungay. As they reach the barangay, they can ride in tricycles that can take them to the dam. From the plaza of the barangay, the travel time to the tourist spot is estimated at around 15 to 20 minutes.
What to See
Tourists can enjoy the relaxing site of Santa Barbara Dam. Surrounding the dam are tall and healthy plant species that add beauty and attraction to the site. In addition, people can also find a big reservoir near the dam, which serves as the source of water at Barangay Tungay. Within the premises of the dam, tourists can also find several animal species. Since this dam is one of the reliable sources of water in the province, the provincial government provides fund for the maintenance of the site.
History
According to the history of the municipality, the need for a good supply of water happened in the Commonwealth period. In order to provide the needs of agriculturists and farmers living within the vicinity, the local government of Santa Barbara in 1921 built an irrigation dam. This sightseeing spot is considered as the first dam in the province that relies on gravity to supply water in nearby places. When seeing this place, tourists have nothing to worry since they do not need to spend much to reach the attraction. By allotting less than 100 pesos for transportation costs from Iloilo airport or seaport, people can already enjoy and admire the beauty of historic Santa Barbara Dam.

