TO settle the matter of which town gets to manage Osmeña Peak, the municipalities of Dalaguete and Badian in Southern Cebu are bracing for the possibility that they will co-manage the famous tourist site, a Capitol official said yesterday.

Joselito “Boboi” Costas, Provincial Tourism Office head, said that his office is gathering data and preparing for the possible co-management of Osmeña Peak by the two towns. Costas said they plan to convince Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III to issue an executive order for both municipalities to co-manage Osmeña Peak.

As of the moment, the PTO and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are conducting a survey of the area that may be covered by a co-management agreement.

Costas said that if the two LGUs will co-manage Osmeña Peak, he will recommend strategies to ensure the protection of the local tourist spot.

This includes site hardening and putting up safe and proper infrastructure such as a viewing deck. Costas said they will recommend putting natural pavements with hand rails that will protect some parts of Osmeña Peak from soil erosion. (Ginalyn Astudillo, CNU Intern)