CALBAYOG CITY, Samar -- Calbayog City is improving its facilities and training villagers as tour guides to boost its local tourism industry this summer.
The improvements are to complement the intensified promotion of its seven waterfalls and other tourist attractions.
Samar (1st District) Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento said on Wednesday that the efforts include improvement in support facilities such as water supply, toilet, dressing rooms, and access road.
Calbayog, dubbed “city of waterfalls”, boasts seven of these wonders - mostly located in northern Tinaplacan village.
The village has seven waterfalls: Larik, Bangon, Tarangban, Baru-baluto, Madalunot, Ginsanghan and Muto-buto.
Bangon and Tarangban are the most popular due to their accessibility.
“When we bring in or invite tourists, our facilities must be prepared. We don’t want to hear or read them posting their negative impressions about their visit in our city,” said Sarmiento.
One of the major improvements is the concreting of the road to Bangon Falls, reducing travel time from 40 minutes to only five minutes from the primary highway, said City Tourism Officer Ronald Ricafort.
The local government is also funding the construction of a tourism assistance center, shower and bathroom facilities, and cottages, which will be run by people’s organization under the watch of local tourism office.
Ricafort said a trail for more convenient hike from Bangon Falls to Tarangban Falls will be set up. It will follow the natural contour of the mountain to retain the site’s natural beauty.
In Tarangban Falls, a toilet will be built with sewage treatment facility to minimize the discharge of liquid waste.
“It’s like looking forward and putting a solution before problems come up,” said Ricafort, citing lessons learned from the country’s top tourist destination Boracay.
Aside from building structures, the city government also trained people’s organizations on how to manage a cooperative and provide basic life support and standard first aid.
“Village watchmen will also be trained in tour guiding and basic life support, but those who fail, they will be trained as porters,” said Ricafort.
Aside from infrastructure projects in Tinaplacan village, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highway will also build access roads to Busay Falls in Caglanipaw Sur village and to Mapaso Hot Spring in Rizal 2 village under the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program.
But aside from waterfalls, this city has more to offer to tourists, said Ricafort.
In Calbayog, the Malajog Ridge Natural Park and zipline are being promoted. The natural park features trekking at the Malajog Ridge or experience zipline from the ridge down to Daraga Islet where tourists can swim, snorkel and enjoy the view of the sunset at Samar Sea.
Visitors may also try kayaking at Bolongto River to Malajog Marble Park which is located just a few meters away from the entrance of Calbayog zipline.
“We can’t compete with Boracay but we can offer more to our visitors, beyond the sea we can offer tourists other destinations like waterfalls and caves. Tourists can also consider us as destination for faith tourism,” Ricafort added.
Faith tourism takes visitors to Saint Anthony de Padua Church in Carayman Village, St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Ipao village, San Vicente Ferrer Parish, the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, and the Marian Place for Reflection and Meditation in Kutay Islet in Malajog village.
The city government is also improving the access road to Guinogo-an Cave in Longsob village, Oquendo District.
On heritage tourism, guests are invited to visit the Diocesan Museum and the Christ the King College where the Samar Archaeological Museum is located.
It is the only archeological museum in Eastern Visayas. (PNA)
