THOSE planning to hold a canyoneering activity in Badian, south of Cebu, from August 12 to 18 were advised to reschedule it early or after those dates, as canyoneering trails will be temporarily closed for a weeklong clean-up drive.

The Badian Municipal Government said it will close to tourists the canyoneering trail in Barangay Sulsogan, all parts of the Matutinao Riverway and the Kawasan falls.

Donald Villarin, Badian municipal tourism officer, said the Municipal Government recommended the temporary closure to allow their famous tourism sites to recharge.

“We’ve been using these sites for the whole year. We want to give those sites a moment to breathe and to allow us to clean some areas where tourists are often present,” Villarin said.

He said they chose the month of August to conduct a clean-up, as they consider it as a “lean month” for tourist visitations.

The clean-up was also supported by the Badian Municipal Council, which passed a resolution during one of its out-of-town sessions in Barangay Santicon last month.

In its resolution, the council said that it agrees to the clean-up being held on August 12 to 18, as it would give time for the town’s tourism service providers to be advised on their bookings.

Aside from personnel and officials of the Municipal Government, barangay officials and tourism stakeholders will also be part of the week-long clean-up drive.

The municipality of Oslob also suspended earlier this year visitations in its sandbar and diving sites around Sumilon Island for a week to facilitate a clean-up drive. (JKV/SunStar Cebu)