Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Town develops rice terraces
TOURISTS need not anymore travel for more than six hours from Baguio to be able to view the world-famous rice terraces of Ifugao.
A version of these renowned terraces could be viewed from a nearer venue, giving visitors lesser travel time while reportedly experiencing the same pleasure.
The Naguey rice terraces in the town of Atok, Benguet is another budding tourism attraction expected to bring in more development to the municipality.
The local government here has prioritized the development of the Naguey rice terraces as an added tourism potential of the town.
Barangay Naguey is the smallest of Atok's eight villages, with an area of 1,600 hectares. The village is three hours from Baguio. It is inhabited by around 1,628 timid but warm individuals.
The area offers one of the most scenic views, among them the breathtaking man-made terraces.
The Naguey terraces, which comprise about 33 hectares of land, is found along the Amburayan River, one of the major rivers in Benguet, and its clear waters serve as a natural cooler to residents and visitors.
Mayor Concepcion Balao said the improvement of the Naguey rice terraces and other potential tourism sites are included in the Municipal Development Plan of Atok.
Compared to other tourism areas, the roads leading to Naguey are well-paved, making the place more accessible.
Naguey is one of the first barangays to be declared as an Agrarian Reform Community by the Department of Agrarian Reform.
It obtained a P44 million funding assistance from DAR, which was used for the establishment of post-harvest facilities, improvement of the farm-to-market road and irrigation, and formation of cooperatives, among others.
Aside from the Naguey terraces, the vegetable gardens and the half tunnel at Barangay Paoay, the highest elevation of the Philippine Highways at Barangay Cattubo, are also among the must-sees for tourists. The Highest Point at Km 52 of the Halsema Highway has an elevation of 7,400 feet above sea level. (JC)
