Apayao bullish as an eco-tourism province

By Joseph Zambrano

KABUGAO, Apayao -- With better roads, this young province’s ecological-tourism industry is bullish according to the Department of Tourism- Cordillera.

DOT regional director Purificacion S. Molintas said they evaluated access roads which significantly improved the past years.

With its nearby province Cagayan having existing ports and airports, tourists can be offered better access to Apayao, Molintas said.

Also tourists in Baguio and other areas can take the usual route towards Pangasinan and eastward to Nueva Vizcaya via the Dalton Pass, or through the Baguio- Aritao Road which traverses Benguet to reach the Cagayan Valley region then to Apayao, she added.

Apayao province which borders Cagayan to the north and east, Abra and Ilocos Norte to the west, and Kalinga to the south, reportedly abounds with eco-tourism potentials like waterfalls, rivers for white water rafting and virgin forests which needs promotion.

Meanwhile, Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang cited need for a tourism master plan for harnessing the province’s tourism potentials.

She said such master plan is needed to guide actions and will set the parameters on the promotion and development of the province’s tourism capabilities.

The provincial tourism council is doing rounds in the different municipalities to determine the extent of development needed in identified potential tourist spots, Bulut-Begtand said.

Apayao celebrated its 18th foundation day on Feb. 14 having separated from Kalinga as an independent province in 1995.

For the first time, Apayao will host the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) later this month with its newly built multi-million sports complex. -- PIA