Ecotourism sites in Iloilo noted for development

THE Tigum-Aganan Watershed Management Board (TAWMB) has identified 16 sites in four upland towns in Iloilo that need to be developed for its ecotourism potentials.
 
The upland municipalities in the Tigum-Aganan watershed area namely Maasin, Alimodian, Leon, and Cabatuan are identified as strategic sites for the community-based ecotourism projects.

TAWMB reported that in Alimodian, the potential sites are the Agony Hill, Seven Cities, where the Tinagong Danao, Umingan Plateau, farm terraces and Lico waterfalls are located.

In Maasin, the potential sites are the waterfalls within the watershed reserve forest area, Putting Bato, Paet Salt Spring, dam site in Daja, adjacent to the Mahogany Park, bamboo processing plant, and the Gines Hill.        

In Leon, the upland barangay of Bucari has a Baguio-like climate and scenery. It is also in Bucari, Leon, and Seven Cities in Alimodian where high value crops such as broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, and some herbs and spices are planted abundantly.
 
In the municipality of Cabatuan, which is considered with religious and historical vale, the sites to be developed are the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino, the Pamul-ogan and Balic Hills, Cabatuan leaf arc, and the chicken tinuom dish cooked in banana leaves. 

The TAWMB reported the potential ecotourism sites are open for tourist adventure and aims to harness these potentials for economic development and sustainable environment anchored on the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras bioregion concept. 

TAWMB, which is supported by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), is headed by Alimodian Mayor Juanito Alipao and assisted by vice chairman and Sta. Barbara town Mayor Dennis Superficial. (Lydia C. Pendon)