Roi Anthoni B.
Lomotan
CANLAON CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 21 (PIA) – The city government
of Canlaon takes steps to boost its eco-tourism program.
City planning Officer Doris Flores, in a meeting with the members
of the Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers (ANOPIO)
recently disclosed that Canlaon City faces some challenges in promoting its
tourism destination and its eco-tourism programs.
Some development issues in tourism include the lack of investors,
facilities and financial resources to develop potential tourist sites.
The city government also has no tourism slogan as of now.
Flores explained that the city government prioritizes human
development programs like education and health services that’s why it lacks
funds to develop the city’s tourism destinations.
“These are the key development issues we encounter in Canlaon
City. Nevertheless, we really strived hard (to promote eco-tourism),” Flores
said.
Canlaon City is located in the northern part of Negros Oriental
near the famous Mt. Kanlaon with a total land area of 16, 662. 59 hectares.
According to Flores, the city is dubbed as the “Summer Capital of the Visayas”
because of its cool weather condition.
“Many would contest this but it is just because in the history of
the Philippines, Canlaon City got the title first,” Flores told public
information officers.
Some of the tourist attractions of Canlaon City include Sudlon
falls that features a 33ft. high waterfalls surrounded by lush flowering
plants.
Another is Padusdusan Natural Slide which offers an
adrenaline-rushing ride on the natural boulder slide filled with cool waters.
Other attractions include the century-old Balete tree in Barangay Lumapao and
the OISCA model farm which displays sprawling terraced riced plantations and
man-made lakes and forests.
The OISCA model farm also is also a site to visit to learn some
organic agricultural practices in the city.
On the other hand, Canlaon City also owns the 8% of the total land
area of Mt. Kanlaon which is more than 24, 000 hectares. Majority of the land
area is owned by the neighboring province which is Negros Occidental.
However, according to Flores, this is not a disadvantage to them
because most people think that the city owns the whole volcano since they
almost have the same name.
Makawiwili Peak is the perfect place to view Mt. Kanlaon from
Canlaon City. Flores also noted that 17 out of the 55 endangered species are
found in the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP).
As a response to the challenge of promoting these eco-tourism
sites, Flores shared that the city government already made talks with the
Department of Tourism for the construction of five viewing decks in the
oriental side of MKNP.
The budget for this project is pegged at P140 million and will
undergo the public-private partnership program of the government.
Aside from this, the city government also submitted a request to
the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) central office for the
construction of roads going to MKNP.
The request was submitted to NEDA central office because the road
project will cover some areas of Negros Occidental which is not under the
supervision of NEDA-7.
Moreover, the city government also initiated Barangayan” project
which aims to inculcate the importance of planting trees to the residents of
the city living near Mt. Kanlaon. Residents are given incentives once they
plant trees and they have make sure that the trees they planted will grow.
The local government also conducts capacity building to its
residents to help them make “Bantay-Kalikasan” officers.
But more importantly, the city government is emphasizing
environmental protection as its thrust on eco-tourism.
Flores explained the viewing decks for example aims to limit the
intrusion of people in the protected areas of the forest. This is a way to
protect and not to scare the animals with the presence of humans.
The city planning officer underscores that the city government
believes that taking care of the environment is an essential factor in
sustaining eco-tourism. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)