Design of zipline for Marabut completed

Monday, December 27, 2010

MARABUT, Samar - The design of the proposed professional course zip-line for the Municipality of Marabut is already finished, Municipal Tourism Council Chairman Rogelio P. Grefiel, Jr. said.

Zip-line, which is also known as flying-fox (for children use), is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to traverse from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable, usually made of stainless steel, by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley.

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It is an extreme activity ideal for outdoor purpose. In contrast to "flying foxes" professional zip-line courses are usually operated at higher speeds covering much longer distances and sometimes at considerable heights. The users are physically attached to the cable by wearing a harness, which is attached to a removable trolley and a helmet is required on almost all courses of any size.

The construction of a zip-line in Marabut is an effort of the private sector doing business (Caluwayan Palm Beach Resort and Restaurant) in the said municipality, Grefiel said, which is being assisted by the local government unit headed by Mayor Percival Ortillo Jr.

"The design is already with them and the construction of the zip-line is due to be started by next year," said Grefiel.

Aside from the said resort another resort had also show its intention to construct the same facility but the design of its zip-line is still in the process, said Grefiel.

Grefiel added that about a million pesos is to be allocated for every 100 meters of cable wire that is to be used for the zip-line cable wire.

Marabut zip-line is unique for it will feature an island to island zip-line hooping that will give tourists the chance to have an aerial view of their beautiful scenery and tourism spots in contrast to other existing zip-line in the country that offers a canopy views for its enthusiasts.

He added that with the construction of the said facility, it will create a ripple effect for business community and will also help in generating employment for their town.

It has been learned from Grefiel that prior to the said plan to construct a zip-line in the said municipality in November 12, 2010 the team of their municipal tourism council headed by Mayor Ortillo went to Barangay Busay in Cebu City which is the location of the first zip-line project in Cebu.

In November 17 a team that includes investors and consultant from Meadowland Development Corporation specializing on extreme sports facilities and water system development assessed the entire municipality of Marabut for a zip-line project that will be constructed within its tourism destinations.

The team was headed by Manuel Abesamis who disclosed that there are three potential sites for zip-line in the municipality and these are located within the vicinity of the three prominent resorts, the Caluwayan Palm Island Resort in Barangay Caluwayan, the Marabut Extreme Experience formerly the Marabut Maine Park in Barangay Osmeña and the JED Beach Resot in Barangay Amambucale.

The presence of rock hills in the vicinity in the three prominent sites are already an advantage on the part of the investor hence high rise zip-line stations are no longer needed, according their Architect Anonio Orceo, designer of zipline.

In the region establishing a site suitable for zip-line activity was first made known to the public when the Agas-agas Bridge in Southern Leyte , the highest bridge in the country with about 100 meters height, was inaugurated last year.

However, as of the moment works for zip-line construction in the said bridge has not yet materialized. Leyte Samar Daily Express