Tublay eco-tourism farm now a popular tourist destination

By Susan Aro

TUBLAY, Benguet -- An eco-tourism farm in this town  is fast  becoming a popular destination among foreign and local visitors.

Located in Acop, Caponga, the ENCA farm, coined after spouses Enrique and Carmen Cosalan, was established in 2006 and is managed by their daughter Marlyn.

Adventurists and nature lovers can go trekking, camping, and be coached on organic farming.

The place is also ideal for retreats due to its natural ecology. They say the place is relaxing and experience nature at its best, Cosalan quipped.

Many visitors visited the farm  and learned the organic way of farming. It has also become a venue in sharing experiences such as those who already have acquired techniques they learned especially in other countries, she said. 

Other visitors come to enjoy nature.

According to Cosalan, foreigners who visit  learned about the farm through the Lonely Planet travel guide. An organization in Washington, DC in the United States of America also established friends of ENCA link, she added.

“But for now we are limiting the number of visitors. We could only accommodate 15 people at a time,” she said.

The farm was not spared during Typhoon Pepeng in 2009 and part of it still needs to be rehabilitated, Cosalan said.

She disclosed efforts are being worked out  to improve and to  accommodate  more visitors. 

Cosalan said they want to incorporate culture in the area for visitors to appreciate and a  home stay program is currently being worked out such that from the terminal station in Baguio,  visitors  could go directly to Acop.

“There are suggestions that we cook food for visitors but we are still considering,” she  said.

With the passage of the Tublay Tourism Code, the local government unit  is planning to step up efforts in protecting and sustaining tourism such as the establishment of a Tourism Information Center to guide visitors in going  to   places of interest in the area  like ENCA.