CHERRY blossoms in Paoay, Atok, Benguet have started to bloom.
Eleazar Carias, officer–in-charge of Benguet Tourism Office confirmed the blooming of two cherry blossom trees in the barangay confirmed by Paoay Tourism Council chair Edward Haight.
The cherry blossoms were planted on June 6, 2016 with the Benguet Provincial Government and the Japanese Embassy to the Philippines named as the Benguet-Kochi Sisterhood Park, a commemoration of the 40th sisterhood anniversary of both provinces.
Carias added more flowers are expected to bloom with a life span of one week.
The park has become a tourist destination in Atok with 2,051 arrivals noted in 2018.
In a bid to improve the area, a memorandum of agreement was signed by the Haights clan, the Provincial Local Government Unit, barangay and the municipality of Atok.
The province is set to shell out P2 million for the installation of fences and restrooms in the area.
A funding of P100 million was proposed for the widening and improvement of the road going to the park forwarded to the DOT and Department of Public Works and Highways.
Other improvements eyed is the construction of an elevated walkway within the park going to the mossy forest.
“Tourists maximize their time going to Bosleng and Mt. Timbac in Cattubo, Atok. As to rules, dos and don’ts in the tourist area it will be the barangay to craft. One focus we have pointed out is on solid waste management and sanitation of the area,” he added.
Other tourist destinations in Atok are the different flower farms such as the Mt. Blooms MPC, Northern Blossom and Johnson Bay-an’s farm where 3,477 tourists visited.
Following the influx of tourists, the Paoay Tourism Council was created while the Department of Tourism conducted accreditation for tour guides.