Hikers traverse historic Cordillera Spanish foot trails in expedition

ECO-TOURISM

Francis B. Degay

BAGUIO CITY -- Some 18 nature lovers trekked the six provinces and one city of the Cordillera using the historical Spanish foot trails that connect these communities.

The team was composed of three females and 15 males aged 25 to 45. The expedition was backed up by rescue crew who drove 4 by 4 vehicles. 

After 17 days and four hours crossing mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls, rice terraces, hot springs and villages, hikers arrived here at Scout Hill, Camp John Hay morning of April 18 after covering  total stretch of about 444 kilometers.

The event started on April 1, 2015 in the province of Apayao via Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet and Baguio City.

According to founder and organizer of the Cordillera Great Traverse Jonnifer M. Lacanlale, a Manila based lawyer, the episode was so challenging.

He said the activity doesn’t only help promote the magnificent sceneries, both natural and man-made, in the Cordillera but advocates health consciousness.  Lacanlale urged local government units, national line agencies and communities to preserve foot trails as these are part of history.

Lacanlale said terrain and nature of the Cordillera  can compete with routes outside the Philippines where she had been joining the same activity. 

In his parting words, Lacanlale  thanked local government units , Department of Interior and Local Government,  Department of Tourism, Regional Development Council, Dept. of Environment of Natural Resources, National Commission for Indigenous People, Philippine Information Agency, and Philippine National Police in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Rescue 8, Camp John Hay Dev’t Corp. and key players for their support to the momentous and historical event.

In an interview with a member of the rescue team, he said that they were grateful because there was no injury or untoward event that happened during the journey.

CGT is a private-led trekking expedition that aims to establish longest, most scenic and sustainable hiking destination in the Philippines by connecting all the province and one city in the Cordillera Administrative Region. It aims to establish the Philippine Cordillera Trail that will compete with trekking destinations in the world and put the Cordillera Region on the map for international trekkers.                          

In the early part of last year, members of the Cordillera Great Traverse passed a proposal of this event to the Regional Development Council of the Cordillera Administrative Region. The latter then passed a Resolution No. 62 that stated support of the RDC in the conduct of the Cordillera Great Traverse.

The following were given the tasks: Provincial governments shall facilitate engagement of CGT with the concerned municipalities and barangays; DILG  to inform the concerned local government units to support the CGT; NCIP to inform the communities that will be affected by expedition; PNP to inform concerned police units in areas to be covered by the CGT and ensure security of the expedition; DOT to include CGT in its promotion; PIA to include CGT in its media promotions; and DENR to identify high biodiversity areas along the proposed trail.