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Friday, March 29, 2024

‘Mountain tourism’ pushed in Reg. 10

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Cagayan de Oro City—The Department of Tourism in Region 10 and the provincial government of Camiguin are pushing for the promotion of mountain tourism with the opening of the Timpoong and Hibok-hibok mountains to adventure seekers.

‘Mountain tourism’ pushed in Reg. 10
Mount Hibok-hibok as seen at 2 a.m. from the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Barangay Itum, Mambajao in Camiguin. Lance Baconguis

Camiguin, one of the country’s top tourism destinations, wants to be on the radar of adventure seekers and nature lovers as it develops its framework for a mountain-to-seas adventure tourism approach.

Timpoong and Hibok-hibok are also national monuments and Asean heritage parks.

Timpoong stands at 1,500 meters above sea level, while adjacent Hibok-hibok rises to 1,200 meters asl.

Both mountains are declared Centers for Biodiversity as an Asean heritage park “• officially known as the Mt. Timpoong-Mt. Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument—and is among the few such protected areas in the country.

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Similar sites in the Philippines include the Mount Apo Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range, Mt. Malindang Range, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

DoT Region 10 Director Marie Elaine Unchuan said the number of protected areas in the region—Mount Kitanglad in Bukidnon, Malindang in Misamis Occidental, and Timpoong-Hibok-hibok—has inspired the DOT 10 to launch mountain tourism as part of a circuit for tourist activities in the region.

“Mountain tourism is the latest addition to the products of DOT-10, which has introduced farm, dive, faith and cultural tourism in the region,” Unchuan said.

Before the mainstreaming of “climb tourism,” she said local government units have to put in place frameworks to set the rules.

“Legislation should be in place, and communities must be involved in this,” Unchuan said.

For Camiguin, Governor Maria Lourdes Romualdo said they have ensured safeguards and trained mountain guides and rangers to protect the environment.

“No moutanineer will go up without local guides,” Romualdo said.

Veteran mountaineer Dr. Gideon Lasco of the Philippine Mountaineering Today, who climbed the range recently, said development must not focus on just improving the lives of people, but on preserving the natural resources of a tourism area like Camiguin.

“The need to protect the mountains is a very valid motivation to take care of the environment. But we who climb mountains, and all our friends, have the opportunity to promote a different kind of motivation to protect the mountains, and that is because we love them,” Lasco said.

Photographer and adventurer Rhonson Ng said the climb was refreshing, as Hibok-hibok is still a lush mountain.

“The trail was beautiful as it is still covered in moss, unlike other mountains which are now almost barren,” Ng said.

Carina Dayondon, fresh from her global “Seven Summits” climb, also joined other climbers in Hibok-Hibok.

“Hibok-hibok is one of the requirements in joining the Xavier University Mountaineering Society. This is the second mountain I climbed when I started to become a mountaineer,” Dayondon said.

The Bukidnon native is the first Filipina to conquer the seven highest peaks in the seven continents.

Mambajao Mayor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo also asked climbers to help spread the word about Camiguin’s mountains.

“Wherever you go, please speak about Camiguin and be our spokespersons to promote Camiguin and help us in our conservation of this beautiful province,” the mayor said.

Last March 23, an inaugural climb was conducted with more than 20 climbers summiting Hibok-hibok via a new trail from the base camp at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in Barangay Itum, Mambajao.

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