THE three illegal and abandoned structures that intruded on the easement zones of Kawasan Falls in Barangay Matutinao, Badian town, Cebu have been removed, but it’s still unclear when the popular falls that used to attract 700 tourists daily could reopen.
Jesus Allan Carpio, president of the Association of Badian Canyoneering (ABC), told SunStar Cebu Monday, July 17, 2023 that the demolition works--conducted with the help of the association’s tour guides--concluded in the second week of July, and that there has been interest in Kawasan Falls’ reopening as Badian’s town fiesta is taking place later this month.
“With the help of the Provincial Government, we were able to do the demolition of the structures. The tourist guides did it themselves,” he said.
The ABC group is the unified association of the former two associations of private tour operations in Kawasan Falls, which are the Association of Badian Canyoneering Operators Inc. (ABCAO) and Association of Kawasan Canyoneering Operators in Badian Inc. (AKCOB). There are at least 43 private tour operators there.
Carpio said the demolition was completed in about 17 working days.
The demolition started shortly after Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia visited the tourism site last June 21 to meet with the involved stakeholders, including the officials from the local government unit of Badian, private tour operators, tour guides and other officials from government agencies.
The governor then suggested employing the tour guides to work for the Capitol’s “pakyaw system,” where they are paid to tear down unpermitted buildings that obstruct access to Kawasan Falls and its riverbanks.
Garcia issued Executive Order 14 last June 2 ordering the temporary closure and suspension of canyoneering activities in Badian in southwestern Cebu after discovering debris and damaged structures abandoned more than a year after super typhoon Odette (Rai) struck Cebu in December 2021, “hazardous metallic spikes,” and structures illegally built within Kawasan’s easement zones, among others.
Under Article 51, Chapter 4 of Presidential Decree 1067, it is prohibited to construct infrastructure near banks of rivers and streams in the country.
“The banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes throughout their entire length and within a zone of three meters in urban areas, 20 meters in agricultural areas and 40 meters in forest areas, along their margins, are subject to the easement of public use in the interest of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and salvage. No person shall be allowed to stay in this zone longer than what is necessary for recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing or salvage or to build structures of any kind,” the decree reads.
Temporary work
Carpio said that while the operations in Kawasan Falls were temporarily halted, which meant no income for those working in the canyoneering operations, the demolition works served as the temporary work for the tour guides.
The 908 tour guides working at the famed tourist site were grouped to form batches with 45 to 50 tour guides per group, he said.
Carpio said the skilled tour guides were assigned to join the manpower in dismantling the three illegal and abandoned structures there, including the two-story structure illegally built in the easement zone near level one of Kawasan Falls.
Other guides were assigned to transport the debris or remnants of the illegal structures from Kawasan falls and its riverbank.
Excited
Carpio revealed that they are excited for Kawasan Falls to reopen for canyoneering activities since Kawasan has been a sought-after destination for both domestic and international travelers visiting Cebu.
“Kawasan is none like others. We really understand why guests would still inquire from us from time to time if Kawasan has reopened already,” he said, adding that Badian’s town fiesta called Banig Festival, slated on July 25 or on the feast day of St. James the Greater, is approaching.
Carpio said they are currently waiting for instructions from the Capitol, particularly for the governor to revisit them, so further steps can be put into action for the rehabilitation of Kawasan Falls.
In a brief interview last July 10 during the inauguration and opening of the first Tourist Rest Area of the Department of Tourism in Medellin town in northern Cebu, Garcia told reporters that she would soon revisit Barangay Matutinao in Badian to check on the progress of the rehabilitation of Kawasan Falls. However, she did not specify when she would visit.
The municipality of Badian is located 113 kilometers southwest of Cebu City.
The town is bordered to the north by the town of Moalboal, to the west by the protected seascape of Tañon Strait, to the east by the town of Dalaguete, and to the south by the town of Alegria.
The closure of Kawasan Falls is costing the town P1.1 million in lost income daily, as canyoneering at the falls attracted 700 tourists on weekdays, and up to 900 tourists on weekends, before the June 2 closure ordered by the governor.