Chico River declared tourism development area

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines   â€“ The Chico River, one of Cordillera’s longest river systems, has been declared by President Aquino a tourism development area along with at least four potential tourism sites in Kalinga province.

The river, which plays a major role in Cordillera’s cultural and environmental significance, has been undergoing massive cleanup and rehabilitation for mercury residue from small-scale mining operations that used to thrive in the area.

A major source of irrigation in Kalinga and parts of Isabela and Cagayan, the river, which is especially being eyed as site for white water rafting, traverses from Bontoc, Mt. Province to the Lubuagan–Tabuk–Pinukpuk area, down to Cagayan’s Tuao River before exiting into the sea in Aparri town.

With the President’s recent signing of Republic Act 10561, the Philippine Information Agency said the Chico River and other tourism programs of Kalinga are now included in the National Tourism Development Plan of the Department of Tourism (DOT) pursuant to the National Tourism Act of 2009.

The other tourism sites up for development in Kalinga include Tinglayan town’s mountain ranges and Palan-ah falls and hot springs; the rainforest in Tanudan town’s Mt. Binaratan for trekking; Balbalan town’s subterranean rivers and caves; Pinukpuk town’s Aguinaldo Hill and mountain lakes; Pasil town’s Padharao Lake; and Rizal town’s so-called Elephant Hill.

RA 10561, authored by Kalinga Rep. Manuel Agyao, mandates the DOT to incorporate the province’s tourism plans in its overall development plan.

It also seeks the establishment of the Kalinga Tourism Development Trust Fund to finance projects that will further enhance Kalinga’s tourism industry.