Sagada open; tourist’s viral post addressed

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA Mountain Province – Tourist guides urged tourists to sign a waiver before visiting sites here after a visitor from Manila uploaded a post last week saying he was in danger when he visited the Balangagan Cave which went viral eliciting comments from netizens for and against the post.
    Sagada tourism officials said the cave was open despite the controversy.
    Noel Agnapan , president of the Sagada Environmental Guides Association (SEGA) aired the sentiments of the tourist guides here saying tourists better sign a waiver before  proceeding on tour.
    This with complaints of some tourists in visiting sites and their stay in this tourist town. 
    Mayor Felicito Dula said measures were being done to address concerns to uplift the tourism industry of the municipality.
    Among other proposed rules, the waiver refers to all tourist sites and to be submitted to the town’s tourism council and for approval to the Sangguniang Bayan and to the office of the Mayor.  .
    Sagada is popular with its adventure tourism on trekking, spelunking and sightseeing attractions here.
    Said waiver which is mandatory for all tourists shall be signed in three  hubs  at the  information center, at the southern zone and at the entrance to Marlboro sunrise trek at the eastern side of town.  
    It was also observed that some tourists arrive early at  early hours in  the morning  before official hours so to attend to them.
    Tourists who arrive in town are usually weekend visitors who stay for a night, visit attractions and leave the next day.
    Some arrive at certain hours of the day, visit tourist sites and leave the same day.   
    Tourism is major source of income here among a number of tourist guides, inns and homestays,  cafes and restaurants, 50  souvenir shops and masseurs who rely on tourism.
    The rest are farmers and seasonal laborers and few in government and private employment among the work force of some 11,000 populace.