Friday, May 09, 2008 Kawasan task force wants entrance fee raised
THE Kawasan Task Force is contemplating on increasing the entrance fee of the popular Kawasan Falls in the southern town of Badian to pursue development.
The development body convened last month following two deaths that happened at the waterfalls.
The issue quickly delved into development of the resort, which has become popular among local and foreign tourists.
One of the improvements eyed is the possibility of increasing the entrance fee currently pegged at P10 to P20.
Badian Mayor Carmencita Lumain lamented that whatever revenue the municipality gets from the entrance fee gets eaten up by the development it needs.
Operations
“Because tourist influx is seasonal in Kawasan Falls, the revenue is not enough for its development. Makatapal pa mi,” Lumain told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, immediately after the members of the task force met.
Maintenance operations include the roads leading to the resort and streetlights.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria, a member of the task force, also raised security concerns in the talks to improve activities in Kawasan.
He recommended that liquor be banned in the area.
Restrictions
“You can never tell the behavior of an intoxicated person,” Valmoria explained.
Valmoria said he doesn’t believe restrictions would lessen tourists in the area.
“They go to appreciate the scenery and enjoy activities in the area,” he said.
Shortly after two tragedies involving diving at Kawasan Falls, Valmoria said that most of the freak accidents happen when someone jumps from the top of the falls.
Those who did were also usually drunk.
On Good Friday last March, Korean national Ryu Ho-Jun jumped from the top of the waterfalls and landed directly on Lim Sang Guen, 24, who was on a raft.
Lim later died of his injuries.
The day before that, a man also jumped from the second level of the Kawasan Falls and failed to surface. He was later found dead.
Reminders
The Municipality of Badian already passed an ordinance against diving from the top of the falls. Reminders are already in place.
Rafts were also temporarily banned at the falls, said Barangay Captain Lourdes Duque of Matutinao, where the falls is located.
The task force also wants to demolish illegal structures at the resort.
Most structures constructed along the river is within the riparian easement, which in areas classified as rural, should be at least 20 meters from the highest water line.
According to the task force report, major structures very near the falls are constructed attached to the cliff side.
A total of four permanent structures are identified at the falls, three in the first level and one in the second.
There were also semi-permanent and temporary structures identified.
“There are ripraps and containing dikes constructed within the riverbed that impedes and obstructs natural water flow,” the report also read.
“Some structures affect scenic value as they obstruct natural view of the falls,” it also read.
The body also wants to create a local government-based management to oversee development. (JGA)
