Suspension lifted: Canyoneering in Alegria, Badian back

CEBU, Philippines - The canyoneering site in Alegria and Badian towns has been finally opened today after three months of closure due to safety issues.

Joselito “Boboi” Costas, Capitol consultant for eco-tourism, said the towns are back on track to hold canyoneering activities as Governor Hilario Davide III did not extend the suspension order.

“It’s a go for tomorrow (today),” he said adding that he will visit the site today for an ocular inspection.

Earlier, Davide issued an executive order closing the canyoneering sites in barangays Compostela and Matutinao in Alegria and Badian, respectively, for two months.

 This was to pave way for the formulation of appropriate guidelines, rules and regulations on the canyoneering activity following reported accidents in the areas and alleged violations of safety standards.

 The canyoneering tours supposedly would resume on August 1. But the suspension was extended for another month because Badian town was not yet ready that time pending the completion of the safety measures, tour guidelines and training of guides and operators.

Canyoneering enthusiasts need to book from accredited operators by the municipal government to avail of the extreme sport.

For safety purposes, the accredited operators are not allowed to accept walk-in canyoneering clients.

“The clients should undergo proper process and protocol to ensure their safety, which is our primordial concern,” said Mae Listones, Alegria local disaster risk reduction and management office chief.

Moreover, Costas said they are still waiting for the relocation survey to be conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7.

The survey, he said, will determine the precise identification of established land boundaries to address land dispute between Alegria and Badian.

“Once and for all they want to know and settle the land dispute. The contention here is the economic side,” he said.

The canyoneering trail, which usually takes at least three hours, begins from an upland barangay of Alegria and leads to Kawasan Falls in the adjacent Badian town.  It has become popular among adrenaline junkies for its canyoneering activity.

In fact, the Alegria government has passed a local ordinance to regulate the influx of clients to avoid untoward incidents and to preserve and protect the river.

Compostela barangay captain Joseph Redula earlier said there is an existing ordinance passed by his council and adopted by the Alegria Municipal Council on the regulation of guests.

 The ordinance provides that only 75 guests are allowed from Tuesday to Friday and 150 persons during Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.

However, the ordinance is yet to be implemented pending review from the Provincial Board’s committee on tourism headed by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

 Redula said the number of guests entering the river has gone out of control.

 Based on the barangay’s ecotourism assessment last year, he said influx of local and foreign tourists went up to 100 to 300 person a day during weekdays and 500 persons per day during weekends.

 As of March last year, records of the barangay’s tourism office show that an average of at least 500 to 4,000 guests visit Kanlaob River in a month. Sometime in February this year, the number of tourists per day reached to over 1,000. (FREEMAN)