Balincaguin Conservancy Grotto

In his effort to stay ahead of the potential upsurge of tourist going to the caves of Mabini, Mayor Carlitos R. Reyes has sent a research team to the LGU-Sagada in Mt. Province to inquire and observe their procedures in controlling its tourism industry. The research team consisted of four members of the Balincaguin Conservancy (BC), Mabini’s local caving group. Fortunately, most of the BC members are also employees of LGU-Mabini.

During the Cacupangan Cave Cleanup Campaign held on 22 September 2008 done by the Hundred Islands Rotary Club and BC, Mayor Titos saw first-hand the unsightly graffiti, litter and damaged cave formations caused by the unregulated visits of tourist in the past. He realized that the LGU needs to take control of its caves so they can be rehabilitated from past damages and to protect them for future generations.

The advisor of BC recently informed Mayor Titos that Treasures of Bolinao Beach Resort and Islandia Hotel in Alaminos are respectively planning to bring 80 and 200 guests soon to the Cacupangan Caves. The caves are assets of Mabini that the LGU has not yet derived income. Using the same entrance fee charged at Hundred Islands (P30/head) as a basis, the 280 expected guests would yield P8,400 as revenue. However having large groups entering the caves at one time may have negative effects on the cave. So LGU-Mabini needs to establish a cave management plan,

Immediately upon arrival to Sagada, the research team paid a courtesy call to Mayor Eduardo T. Latawan, Jr. who declared that although Sagada is only a 5th class municipality with an area of 9,969 hectares and a population of only 11,291 people, it presently caters to an average of 90 tourists per day. Along with its cool mountain climate and laid back atmosphere, Sagada is blessed with its natural caves, waterfalls, unique rock formations and its cultural attractions like the Hanging Coffins and cave burial grounds.

Sagada began regulating its attractions in 1994 and charged only a P10/head fee at first. A couple of years ago Sagada enacted its “Revised Sagada Tourism Code of 2007,” which aims to set the rules and regulations for all tourism related businesses and activity. According to the Code, all guests/visitors must first register at the Municipal Hall and pay P20/head Environmental Fee for their entire stay in Sagada. The LGU is planning to increase the fee to P70/head so a full time tourism officer can be hired.

Visitors are also required to hire accredited guides to visit the tourist spots. The two local guiding groups are SEGA (Sagada Environmental Guide Association) and SaGGAs (Sagada Genuine Guide Association). Members of these groups who guide visitors must be certified by Sagada’s Tour Guide Accreditation Board and have a municipal business license. The guides’ role is to educate and orientate its clients and to monitor their actions to ensure their safety and minimize their impact on the attractions.

LGU-Sagada has standardized and monitors the rates charged by all tourism related business like hotel, restaurants, transportation, and guides. The minimum fee for a cave guide is P400 and according to SEGA's President Egbert Dailay, an average of 10 guides is hired daily.

During their stay in Sagada (4-7 March 2009), the BC research team followed the procedure of registering at the Tourist Information Center and took a couple of tours to observe the guiding techniques of both associations. Thanks are given to Mark and Francis (SEGA) for the Cave Connection tour and John (SaGGAs) for the Mt. Ampacao sunrise tour. Finally, many thanks to the LGU-Sagada especially Mayor Eduardo T. Latawan, Jr., Executive Secretary Eduardo G. Umaming, Jr. and Municipal Information Officer Cheryl Cadiogan for their help in making the research trip very productive.

It is the recommendation of the BC research team that the LGU-Mabini passes a resolution creating its own tourism code using Sagada’s procedures as a working model. The research team plans to submit its findings in a multimedia report to Mayor Titos and the Sangguniang Bayan on 18 March 2009.

By Jerry Rendon, BC Advisor