New Sagada tourist guide group opposed

By Gina Dizon

 SAGADA, Mountain Province -- A new tourist guides group called Sagada Ethnic Tourist Guides Organization (SETGO) is being opposed by established ones claiming members of SETGO have not undergone trainings and not accredited by proper offices.

In their petition forwarded to the Sangguniang Bayan, guide groups namely Sagada Environmental Guides Association (SEGA), Sagada Genuine Guides Association (SAGGAS), Bangaan Fidelisan Tanulong Aguid Madongo Pide Guides Association (BFTAMPGA) and the   Association of Southern Sagada Tourist Guides (ASSTG), claimed SETGO violated existing practices of guiding as to guide-tourist ratio.

It has been reported that SETGO assigns as many as 10 tourists to one guide as against the usual practice of four tourists to one guide in entering the cave.

With four tourists to one guide inside the cave, the guide while holding the light is more confident in ensuring the well-being  of visitors. “The safety of the tourists is primary,” a SEGA guide said.

With 10 tourists to one guide ratio, the guide will collect at least nearly P1,000 instead of P500 for the ordinary cave tour per cave entrance.

An established maximum of four visitors to one guide per cave entrance is charged 500 pesos.

Sangguniang Bayan committee chair on tourism Councilor Dave Gulian said the committee  shall be meeting  as soon as possible to advise SETGO to undergo the necessary requirements otherwise shall not be allowed to  guide.  

Otherwise, Gulian said in an interview that SETGO members while they are still not accredited shall join other established guide groups.

In their letter to SB, the four guide groups also pointed out that there are two groups-SAGGAS and SEGA- based in central Sagada whom SETGO members can join in.

SETGO is composed of some 30 members who reside in Dagdag, Demang and Ambasing barangays from central Sagada and some who are not ethnically members of the Applai tribe from Sagada. SAGGAS is composed mostly of guides from the same barangays..

SEGA mostly composed of guides from Poblacion Patay and Dagdag had long been established in the 80s guiding tourists to the popular Sumaguing cave also called Big Cave and Bokong Falls.

The four organizations also claimed the formation of SETGO shall splinter the four zonal-based organizations and encourage ‘territorial guiding’. Currently, guides from the south can guide tourists within tourist spots in the Poblacion area with no complaint from Poblacion based guides.

It has been noted in a separate workshop of guides that southern guides allow the entrance of  Poblacion based guides enter Balangagan cave for as long as one guide from ASSTG is included in cave entrance where there are  5 tourists and above to be guided.   

Northern guides are strict about them only guiding in their territory.

BFTMPGA members come from the northern five barangays of the town who are federated from two guide groups.The northern side of the town locates the much visited Bumod-ok Falls.

ASSTG is composed of members from four southern Sagada barangays Ankileng, Suyo, Nacagang and Taccong  known for locating Pongas Falls and Balangagan cave.

Meantime, guides here in Sagada are emphatic guides from other areas such as Banaue and Manila should not be allowed to guide visitors in touring Sagada’s attractions.