CAN paint bring back the glory of the Ifugao rice terraces?
In a bid to enhance the innate charm of the ancient rice terraces in Ifugao, Department of Tourism (DOT)-Cordillera Regional Director Venus Tan has embarked on yet another painting project.
The idea to paint the rooftops of homes in the view of terraces aims to blend with the colors of the mountains seen to start next week as DOT’s top brass, Davies Paints and stakeholders will be present to grace initial ceremonial painting of homes along the Batad and Bocos villages.
Tan said painting will kick off on the 17th to coincide with the inaugural flights of the Clark–Bagabag route to commemorate the milestone of bringing the Ifugao province as a more accessible destination for tourists.
The start of flights from Clark going to the Bagabag airport in Nueva Viscaya will cut travel time for jetsetters going to the majestic terraces to 45 minutes.
Flights are led by Wacay Travel, a local Batanes based business which has opened destinations in the country for both local and foreign markets.
Jo Ann Virina of Davies Paints said a painting workshop is set for residents on Tuesday, May 16 followed by the ceremonial painting the following day.
Virina said both Batad and Bocos village homes will be with a uniform green colored roof and brown facade to blend with the surrounding of the terraces using lead- ree, low-odor, and environment friendly paint.
The Davies Paints representative said an estimated 226 homes in Batad is set while there are 429 homes in Bocos.
The project is under the DOT's REV Campaign launched months ago geared towards a re-bloom, re-green and rehabilitation which enjoins community participation in the proposed projects.
The DOT is embarking on the enhancement of existing tourism sites and identifying new tourism products anchored on community based travel programs and tours by providing capacity building, trainings on home stay, eco guiding, culinary aimed at elevating sustainable standards of services in all tourism destinations.
Reports of unregulated development is endangering the world-renowned terraces once again as multistory structures and shanties made of cemented walls and tin roofs are already replacing the resilient traditional Ifugao houses, thereby losing the cultural and aesthetic value of the villages.
Tourism has become one of the leading sources of income for the people of Ifugao, the area being one of the top destinations in the country today because of the Batad Rice Terraces Bangaan Rice Terraces, Nagadacan Rice Terraces, Mayoyao Rice Terraces and Hapao Rice Terraces.