3 MIN READ

By KIMBERLIE QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said Benguet mayors are willing to open their towns to tourism, but not at the moment.

Palangdan, the president of the Benguet mayors’ league, said mayors in the province are still preparing their towns for future tourism opening. He discussed the matter with them during their September 30 meeting attended by all the mayors. They also discussed the crafting of guidelines and protocols, including the capacity of their respective tourism sites before being included in the Ridge to Reef Tourism Corridor program of the Department of Tourism. The program aims to jumpstart tourism in Northern Luzon among low-risk areas, which Baguio City and Region 1 provinces kicked off this October.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said they intend to expand the program from Baguio City to the rest of the Cordillera.

As for Itogon, they would be opening their trekking sites, including Mt. Ulap in Barangay Ampucao, Mt. Bidawan and Mt. Pigingan in Dalupirip, and Mt. Ugo in Tinongdan. The mayor said coordination with the barangay captains for the inclusion of the trekking sites as part of the tourism circuit of Baguio City is ongoing. However, Palangdan reiterated that the town’s swimming pools remain open for residents only.

During their meeting, October 2, the Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 response concluded that La Trinidad, the Strawberry capital, is not yet ready to receive tourists.

Municipal Tourism Officer Valred Olsim said that even the Strawberry Farm, which is the favorite attraction, is not ready for tourists. He said that the fields are now planted mostly with vegetables.

“We still need to prepare, draft guidelines and protocol, install hand washing areas, prepare manpower to assist tourists, among others, and we need more time to put these in place,” Olsim said.

He explained that unlike Baguio City, the tourism office of La Trinidad lacks personnel. He said that Baguio’s tour package included a tour guide who will accompany the visitors to ensure they follow protocols and the approved itinerary.

Dr. Genevieve Degay of the town’s health office said that their quarantine facilities are already full at the moment and that there are still patients in line for admission. She said that they already recommend home quarantine.

“We do not recommend the opening up of our town for tourism at this time,” the doctor said.

“If that is the case, we cannot force it,” Mayor Romeo Salda said.

However, the mayor said that officials should start putting necessary preparations towards the gradual opening up of the tourism industry. He said they have already opened three eco-tourism sites for their residents.

Locals can now visit Mt. Kalugong in Barangay Cruz, Mt. Costa in Puguis, and Avong nen Romy in Wangal. He said the three sites are only open on Saturday and Sundays. It will also employ 50 percent of its maximum operational capacity.

However, Olsim said that only Mt. Costa is ready to receive visitors at the moment.

Tublay Mayor Armando Lauro, meanwhile, said they have an ongoing validation of their various tourism sites. He said they are improving the handrails going to Paterno and Bengaongao cave in Barangay Ambongdolan, and rehabilitating Bayokbok falls and the Asin hot spring, both in Tuel.

According to him, they are looking at allowing the opening of the privately-owned eco-tourism sites. These include the lemon-picking farm at Km. 21, Ambassador, and the Winaca Eco-Cultural Village in Caponga. The mayor said they are looking forward to launching their tourism sites during their foundation day on November 22.

The Mt. Pulag National Park announced that the national park is not yet open for trekking on its social media account. # nordis.net