THE Matanao local government unit (LGU) in Davao del Sur actively promotes cave tourism within their municipality.
With the inauguration of the Cave Congress in Matanao, the LGU has opened up three caves to the public. The event attracted participants from various regions, including representatives from other LGUs in Mindanao that also feature caves.
Government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) were also in attendance, with approximately 200 participants exploring the caves during the congress.
Clover Jane Chan Sabornido, the tourism officer of Matanao's municipal government, explained that the cave congress is designed to both promote and conserve the region's eco-sites, with a particular focus on its caves.
"It's part also of the trust of our municipality to make it sustainable and at the same time to focus on highlighting our local products and local economy like the homestays and at the same time our B'laan culture," Sabordino said.
Matanao boasts an inventory of over 60 caves, with three of them - Su'bon Cave, Asbang Faksol, and Dats - now officially open to the public. These three caves have received clearance for public visits and have been accredited under the approval of DENR. (ICE with reports from AJA)