Tourism council kicks off development of hilly lands

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Tourism Council (CCTC) has started with the Cebu highlands tourism development program capitalizing on the rich nature and environment to attract eco-tourism enthusiasts.

CCTC chairperson Tetta B. Baad announced yesterday that the commission is set to officially open the "Highlands Tour" during the launching of "Lakbay Lingaw" campaign.

Of the total 80 barangays under the Cebu City jurisdiction, 31 of which are located in the mountains with rich nature and environment attractions.

The Cebu City government allocated a total of P13 million for CCTC budget, of which P1.3 million will be spent for nature and environment resources development.

Baad said the program will initially develop and promote the flower and ornamental gardens, vegetable farms, caves, falls, among other destinations, providing an anchor facility-- the two-hectare "Farmer's Market" to be situated in barangay Malubog.

In coordination with different barangay captains in the communities located on the hilly lands of Cebu, through the Hillyland Commission, the trail will have organized facilities which will include a road-stop or a small shopping and rest strip, that will have small restaurants, rest rooms, vegetable and flower (fresh produced) stores, sweet-corn stands, coffee shop, restaurants, Cebuano delicacies, souvenirs, choices of organic lechon, among others.

Aside from sight-seeing, the package will also introduce adventure events, like horse-back riding, trekking, rappelling, caving, and others.

The eco-tourism package has also gained support from the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Authority (TIEZA), Ba-ad said, who is also a commissioner of the Cebu Provincial Tourism Commission.

The road-stop will also serve as stop-over area for motorists who are traveling in the highlands, aside from those that are availing the eco-tourism packages, she said.

A picnic area will also be identified, as soon as CCTC will be able to converge all the barangay executives to present the grand plan.

This will be another attraction offer of Cebu aside from the conventional city tours, and the beaches.

Baad said Cebu will have to capitalize on the beauty of its hillylands, while some investors are now establishing restaurants, adventure cafes, and small inns.

This development should also be reinforced by establishing good and complementary facilities, as well as events, Baad added.

This program will complement the existing tour packages offered by tour operators.

Training for residents as tourists' guide and other educational essentials needed is on-going, and the development Highland Tour corridor, which include from south and northern parts of mountain barangays as well as the western part, will be developed under the five-year masterplan. — Ehda M. Dagooc (FREEMAN)