Badian canyoneering activities suspended due to illegal structures

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has temporarily imposed suspension and closure of the canyoneering activities in Matutinao, Badian, Southern Cebu.

This, after several structures along the trail and of the canyoneering site pose danger to the public and there were also “illegal” structures that were observed built in the easement zone of Kawasan Falls.

In the executive order that Garcia had issued, the ocular inspection the local government unit of Badian, through the LGU’s Municipal Engineering Office, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources and other offices on last February 16, found “hazardous metallic spikes and structures built within the defined easement zones of Kawasan Falls.”

Kawasan Falls is one of the tourism destinations in the town of Badian that was not spared from the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette in December 2016.

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) also made an inspection at the abandoned CEBECO Dam in the canyoneering trail where its personnel found that there’s a life-threatening dangerous passage of water beside the dam that needs to be repaired or removed to avoid any accident.

Even the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), together with the LGU’s frontline offices, reported that there’s a need to take actions of these ruins within the identified easement zones in Kawasan Falls to ensure the public’s safety.

“To make matters worse, despite the findings of the abovementioned government agencies, these illegal structures and dangerous ruins were just left disregarded for over a year, thereby remaining a continuing threat to the life and safety of the public,” Garcia said in her EO.

“Any injury or mishap resulting from gross neglect of possible dangers” of these structures may affect the tourism industry of the town and the Province of Cebu.

To avoid any accidents, the governor said it is necessary to temporarily suspend and close the canyoneering activities in the area for the LGU to take the necessary actions for the public’s safety.

Garcia has ordered the Philippine National Police to strictly impose her order which will be in effect “until further notice.” — (FREEMAN)