THE 2006-2008 Mt. Everest Expedition team leader and Negrense mountaineer Art Valdez and his group has ventured into an eco-tourism project -- The Mt. Everest Zipline -- the longest zip line in Negros Occidental, situated at Igmayaan Proper, Salvador Benedicto.
Mt. Everest summit climber Erwin Pastor Imata with Fred Jamili was with Valdez preparing the zip line.
They were joined by many residents of Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB) on Tuesday to set up the huge zip line cable from Igmayaan to cross the scenic and photographic mountains.
Adventure and mountaineering were among the passions of Valdez who used to be the Department of Transportation and Communication undersecretary during the term of former President Fidel V. Ramos.
“As life is short and we only pass these life ones so we better do the things that will make us enjoy life to the fullest,” said Valdez as he led reporters to the area Tuesday.
He said the important is that DSB is now an Eco-Tourism Center.
The climate is cool and one needs a project that can attract people or tourists.
"We call this zip line as the Mt. Everest Zip line, a project of the Mt. Everest team,” he said.
Pastor Imata will be joined by Carina Dayundon during the soft launch to be graced by no less than President Ramos on October 18.
Imata, Dayundon and Leo Oracion were the ones who reached the summit of Mt. Everest.
"This is our project and our modest contribution to attract people to come to Don Salvador Benedicto. This zip line has a total length of 1.7 kilometer (km) cable lines with 2-inch diameter. It is safe. Those who will take the zip line must be stout hearted because this is quite a long fly crossing the Talos River. If you come here and ride on that, you will forget all your problems”, Imata said.
He added that the zip line will start from Igmayaan proper to Purok Tuburan which would take about a km. in length and from there, there is another 7 km zipline going to the finish area. A zip line rider will trek for a few minutes or at most 15 minutes in going back to starting area. So those who take the zip line can have a little exercise by way of trekking.
“This project is realized with the tourism program of Mayor Joemax Ortiz. He attracted investors and tourists to come to DSB,” Imata said.
"I have my interest too because I was here at DSB since 1979. The BM company operates here thus DSB was created as a municipality in 1983. We will help the administration here and also the people. We will create an activity here in order to benefit the people. The people here are in fact excited about this project. There are those who bought motorcycles to be used as "habal habal" (a single motorcycle that is used as a means of transportation usually by people in the mountainous or far flung areas). The local farmers and producers prepare their products so that they will sell it to tourists who would like to buy such as pineapple and other locally produced fruits and even vegetables," he said.
Ortiz has encouraged investors to invest at DSB and "we took it from his policy and put up this project."
The Mt. Everest Team will also help train the locals on disaster preparedness.
"Adventure with adrenalin rush is really our passion thus we made this project," he said.
They will also put up a Bungy jumping where tourist can jump from the mountain while connected to a large elastic cord. The thrill comes from the free-falling and the rebound.
He further said that part of their long term plan is to put up a cable car in the area.
"If you ride in a zip line, you will forget all your problems because you will enjoy the adventure. Everyone should try. It is just a matter of managing your fears," he said.
Soft launch
Ramos will come to DSB for the soft launching of the Mt. Everest zip line project. He will also lead the planting of tree seedlings, a project of Ortiz.
Ortiz said, "We just want to change the face of DSB physically and demographically. The zip line project is an answer to my call to open DSB to investors. The Mt. Everest team was the first to respond to this call. We want to replicate Tagaytay. We want to become the future city of Negros Occidental. We look forward that on top of the zip line, there will be more to come in the coming months. We intend to buy up a cable car, horseback riding and hopefully, by December, the horseback riding will be established. We will also put up the biggest revolving cross in the country with colors at the prayer mountain on top of the water falls. Our strawberry farms are being developed also. Also we have a flower garden with rare flowers. Hopefully, by Pana-ad festival, we can call DSB as the most sought for in the province as we will be showcasing all colors of sun flower and at the same time, we are also hoping to have multi colored roses," he said.