Provincial Government to oversee canyoneering activities

CEBU, Philippines - While the towns of Badian and Alegria have agreed that they will separately operate canyoneering activities in the Kanlaob River, the Cebu provincial government stressed that it will closely look into the operation of both local government units.

Joselito “Boboi” Costas, head of the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office, said that while both LGUs have agreed to hold their own canyoneering activities in their respective towns, the provincial government will still impose rules.

Costas explained that they will oversee some of the canyoneering activities, which is “non-negotiable,” including the procedure management, resource conservation management, policies and the health and safety of the tourists.

“Non-negotiable meaning to say kami gyud ang motan-aw, the provincial government, dili madala nga sila sila ra, siguro okay ra na later, kon unsay gusto nila nga mga i-package sa ilang tours. Okay ra namo, although motan-aw gihapon mi ana, ang mga non-negotiable maoy tan-awon gyud namo,” Costas said.

Just recently, Badian and Alegria towns have agreed that there will be no co-management between the two over the canyoneering activities at Kanlaob River.

With the arrangement, both LGUs will set their own entrance fees with the same package rate, which is P1,500 per head.

For tourists who will enter in Badian, the entrance will be in Barangay Sulsogan, which starts at the fourth jumping area of the whole canyoneering place and will finish in Kawasan Falls.

For guests who prefer to start in Alegria, they will enter Barangay Compostela where jump one starts up to the 7th and last jumping area.

However, they will not be able to enter or finish their canyoneering activity in Kawasan Falls, Barangay Matutinao, which is already part of Badian.

Costas said it is up to the guests if they will proceed and finish their canyoneering activity in Kawasan since there will be an additional fee.

Further, Costas said that both LGUs want the Department of Environment and Natural Resources  to present the result of their location survey on the boundary dispute in the area to the Cebu Provincial Board.

Although the DENR didn’t reveal the result of its survey to the public, one of the officials in Badian said in the Cadastral boundary, most parts of the river is under the town of Alegria. However, if it will be based on the municipal boundary, most parts of the river belong to Badian.

Costas said, they are eyeing the finalization of the agreement on the canyoneering activity by next week. (FREEMAN)