Road to Mt. Pulag 90 percent finished

BOKOD, Benguet – Mt. Pulag, the second highest mountain in the country, is now more accessible to mountaineers.

The 21-km road that leads to the Mt. Pulag ranger station in Barangay Ambangeg here is now 90 percent complete.

Mt. Pulag, famous for its breathtaking view of the sunrise emerging from a sea of clouds, is second highest peak in the country next to Mt. Apo.

Frequented by hikers and nature lovers, Mt. Pulag is one of the ultimate challenges for local mountaineers.

Engineer David Buliyat, Department of Public Works and Highways District 1 chief, said completion of the road is expected before the end of the year.

The 21-km road stretches from Ambangeg junction to the ranger station, then up to Kaling junction in nearby Kabayan town, where the Akiki trail leading to the summit of the mountain begins.

BDEO-1 project engineer Severino Bangasan said that prior to the construction of the road, the 11-kilometer stretch from Ambangeg to the ranger station, where hikers mandatorily have to stop-over for a briefing, was a 2-hour trip. Now, it only takes 30 minutes.

Buliyat said the road completion will be simultaneous to the construction of the 2-storey building that will serve as Ranger Station and rest area of mountaineers after coming from the peak or before conquering Mt. Pulag.

He said the project started in 2012, which cost P110 million, is an initiative of the Department of Tourism-Cordillera that the BDEO-1 implemented.