RICE TERRACES. The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Cordillera says on Monday (Aug. 7, 2023) that Ifugao's famous rice terraces, shown in this 2019 photo, did not sustain severe damage from Super Typhoon Egay. The DOT said native huts in Uhaj village in Battad, Banaue were damaged but repairs have already begun. (PNA file photo)
BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Tourism in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) on Monday said heritage sites in the region did not sustain severe damage from Super Typhoon Egay.
"May mga nasira lang na native hut sa Uhaj pero nagpapasalamat tayo at wala naman severe damage lalo sa terraces (Some of the native huts in Uhaj sustained damage but we are glad there was no severe damage to the terraces)," said Jovi Ganongan, DOT-CAR regional director, in a phone interview on Monday.
Uhaj is a populated community at the Battad rice terraces in Banaue, Ifugao, which is a United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage site.
Several other rice terraces in Ifugao province have been listed as UNESCO heritage sites.
Ganongan said the huts are already being repaired by locals as of posting time.
No damage was also recorded in Sagada's burial caves, among the most highly visited sites by locals and foreign tourists.
The official said that while there was no major damage, some local governments opted to close the destinations for safety reasons, with threats of possible landslides and flash floods.
"They know better, especially as regards safety. We leave the decision to close and when to reopen to the locals who are more knowledgeable of their needs and the conditions in their areas," the official added.
Mt. Pulag in the towns of Bokod and Kabayan, Benguet; the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, and even the Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad, Benguet have been closed at the height of the torrential rains of Egay.
Most of them are now open based on the announcement of the local government units.
Baguio tourists
Despite Egay's effects, tourists still pushed through with their plans to visit Baguio City and other parts of the region, with hotels recording full occupancy from July 25 to the end of the month.
“Mataas ang occupancy rate natin sa Baguio, talagang dumating ang mga turista at nagpahinga sa mga hotel natin (We have a high occupancy rate in Baguio and visitors arrived to rest in the hotels),” Ganongan said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of tourists were stranded in Sagada at the height of Egay, including a large group that was in the area for an anniversary celebration.
The local government unit said the stranded tourists were cared for while in the town. (PNA)
