Itogon consolidates tourism sites

ITOGON, Benguet -- Itogon Mayor Oscar Camantiles is set to consolidate tourism sites in the town to create package tours for visitors.

Camantiles said the newly discovered Kalumbas Falls is now set to be a part of the tourism destinations in the town, as well as the Ave Maria Shrine trek.

Both sites are now being consolidated to form cohesive packages for visiting local and foreign tourists.

For the falls, a validation team previously recommended the area to be feasible for development and promotion.

The Shrine is an existing area set up by Belgian missionaries in the past. The local government has devoted funds for its rehabilitation.

The local government envisions to have Stations of the Cross set up in the area, as well as mysteries of the holy rosary. The trek will span three areas, Poblacion, Dalupirip and Tinongdan comprising of seven kilometers.

The two new sites in the town add to the existing destinations like the Level 1800 hot springs, as well the Balatoc Mine tour.

The most famous of its destinations is the trek up to Mount Ugo.

The annual Mt. Ugo summer climb is organized by Barangay Tinongdan, home to the second highest mountain in Luzon, in partnership with Itogon, and is sponsored by SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc. (Snap-Benguet).

It attracts hundreds of local and out-of-town mountaineering enthusiasts and promotes environmental and cultural awareness.

The Mt. Purgatory invitational climb, also sponsored by Snap-Benguet, was first held last year.