Saturday, October 18, 2008 'Pasiyal' launched to protect ecology, farming at Pulag By Gloria Tuazon
KABAYAN, Benguet -- Environment and tourism can both be promoted at the same time, each to compliment the other.
The local government of Kabayan, headed by Mayor Faustino Aquisan, is spearheading the drive to promote tourism as a way to awaken people of the importance of environmental protection.
With the fast-paced agriculture and land conversion ongoing it would not take long when every inch of the protected watershed and national park zones would be gone to human commercial activities.
Mount Pulag, being the second highest mountain in the country and considered a haven of extraordinary species, both flora and fauna, is endangered because of encroaching farm expansion.
Vegetable plantations are creeping up its slopes, scarring it and denuding it of the natural oak forest, which provides safe, clean water for most people there. The fertilizers and pesticides seeping into the virgin land is also slowly killing it.
"Tourism is a way to get people to visit the places of Kabayan," Aquisan said, adding that "to appreciate the beauty of its land and people. It would prod both the host people and the visitors to care for the environment and at the same time create livelihoods out of it. It goes hand in hand, when it is the environment you are promoting for show, you are guided and responsible for its protection and care. This is not to say however agriculture should be scrapped altogether but they have to stay within the bounds of their allotted areas and supplement their income or livelihoods with something else."
Depending too much on agriculture would kill the land that supplies us all with water. "We must be looking at the long-term effect, not only the temporary relief of gaining from agriculture. Also the drive to lessen the use of too much chemicals. These days the acid and other chemical components on the land are enough to contaminate the water and make people ill in the long run," he added.
To support this cause, Kabayan is focused on an upcoming tour slated on October 31 to November 2. Dubbed "Pasiyal Mwan Chi Kabayan," which will showcase the beauty of Mt. Pulag, the mossy forest and the mystical four lakes it is so proud of.
The route would take trekkers from Baguio to the Rangers' Station. From here, a two-hour hike to the jump-off point of the famed "mountain of spirits" (which what Mt. Pulag translates into), passing by a beautiful path of tall grasses and mountain flowers. Getting to the grassland at last to rest and camp for the night.
The next day the trekkers would cross the mossy forest down to Barangay Tawangan and be welcomed there with a cultural presentation and traditional ritual by the resident Kalanguya and Ibaloi tribes. Along the way are the four inland lakes of Kabayan, not seen by many yet. These lakes would truly mystify nature lovers. Along these trails, eco-tourists would be given more than enough reason to appreciate and preserve the environment.
Registration fee is pegged at P2,000 per person, included are the green and environmental fees, the barangay fee, IDs and shirt, certificates, lunch of day 1, dinner of day 2, and breakfast and lunch of day 3.
For inquiries and information those interested may contact Mayor Faustino Aquisan at 09272305038, Councilor Dorothea Sental at 09204452822 and MTAO Engineer Berry Sangao Jr. at 09154033211. Please help preserve and care for the environment.
