Kabayan’s allures

TRAILS UP NORTH
Glo Abaeo Tuazon

KABAYAN, Benguet -- Environment and tourism can be promoted at the same time, each to complement the other. The local government of Kabayan headed by Mayor Faustino M. Aquisan is now spearheading the drive to promote tourism to awaken people on importance of environmental protection.

With the fast pace agriculture and land conversion is going in Kabayan, it would not take long when every inch of the protected watershed and national park zones would be gone to these. Mount Pulag being the second highest mountain in the country and considered a haven of extraordinary species, both flora and fauna is endangered as well.

Vegetable plantations are creeping up its sides, scarring and denuding it of the natural oak forest that provides safe, clean water for most people there. The fertilizers and pesticides are seeping into the virgin land and slowly killing it.

Tourism is a swell way to get people to visit the places of Kabayan, Aquisan said, to appreciate the beauty of its land and people. It would prod both host people and the visitors to care for the environment and create livelihoods out of it.

It goes hand in hand, when it is the environment you are promoting for show, you are guided and responsible for its protection and care. This is not to say however that agriculture be scrapped altogether but they have to stay within the bounds of their allotted areas and supplement their income or livelihood with something else.

Depending too much on agriculture would kill the land that supplies us all with water. We must be looking at the long term effect, not only the temporary relief of gaining from agriculture, also the drive to lessen the use of too much chemicals. These days the acid and other chemical components on the land are enough to contaminate the water and make people ill in the long run.

To support this cause, Kabayan earlier held a tour four tourists and nature lovers to showcase the beauty of Mt. Pulag, the mossy forest and the mystical four lakes it is so proud of. The route was from Baguio to the Rangers' Station.

From here it was a two-hour hike to the famed mountain of spirits (Mt. Pulag), passing by a beautiful path of tall grasses and mountain flowers. Getting to the grassland at last to rest and camp for the night. the next day the trekkers crossed the mossy forest down to Barangay Tawangan and welcomed there with a cultural presentation and traditional ritual by the resident Kalanguya and Ibaloi tribes.

Along the way were the four inland lakes of Kabayan, not seen by many yet. These lakes would truly mystify the nature lovers. Along these trails, ecotourists were given more than enough reasons to appreciate and preserve the environment.

For inquiries and information on related concerns, one may contact Mayor Faustino Aquisan at 09272305038, Councilor Dorothea Sental at 09204452822 and MTAO engineer Berry Sangao Jr. at 09154033211.

Please help preserve and care for the environment. To have a preview of Mt. Pulag, the mossy forest and the four lakes of Kabayan you can log on to twilightglo@multiply.com.