Sagada, Mountain Province– The regional office of the Department of Tourism in the Cordillera has proposed and recommended the non-use of Petromax as light in the Sumaguing and Balangagan caves.
In a letter of Regional Director Marie Venus Tan of DOT-CAR dated July 3, 2018, she said the use of naked lights or Pertomax “will endanger the lives of the tourists going inside the caves and will destroy the natural features because of the carbon monoxide emission”.
She said that one of the priority areas in CAR that need improvements in terms of tourism management are those of the caves frequented by local and foreign tourists like those mentioned.
Per Republic Act 9072, there is an urgent need to improve the methods, techniques and management systems in caves.
Section 2 of the act declared the policy of the state to conserve, protect, and manage the caves and cave resources as part of the country’s natural wealth.
Prohibited acts under Section 7 of the law includes “(a) knowingly destroying, disturbing, defacing, marring, altering, removing, or harming the speleogem or speleothem of any cave . . .”
Speleothem refers to any formation in any cave including stalactites and stalagmites which are natural formations. The emissions from Petromax destroy these.
Carbon monoxide emission poisoning is also feared to affect the health of tourists going to the caves.
Inhaled carbon monoxide will rapidly accumulate in the blood and deplete its ability to carry oxygen throughout the day.
“May we recommend that the municipal council pass an ordinance to stop the use of Petromax or naked lights and instead use head lamps or flashlights”, the letter to the Municipal Mayor James Pooten, Jr. states.
In an interview with Mayor James Pooten, Jr. over the weekend, it was learned that the issue was tackled by the Municipal Tourism Council.
He said that the guides will slowly shun the use of Petromax as they are aware of the repercussions, but that they will have to find spot lights or any other that have the same reach as the Petromax.
Marites Abad Matulay, the Municipal Tourism Action Officer of Sagada, confirmed that the issue was tackled in a recent Municipal Tourism Council.
“They are in the process of looking for flashlights with 360 degrees lighting systems and not just those with limited direction”, she informed.
Mayor Pooten said that a sponsor was willing to fund the purchase of such flashlights, if there are any, to be hired out to the guides. Anyhow, the intent will be revisited in the next tourism meeting, he said.
Tour guides acknowledge the issue or situation in Sagada.
“Suffocation due to carbon monoxide may not be a problem in the caves but chemical reactions may destroy the deposits”, said Jory Yodong, a guide.
“We will continue using the Petromax here in Sagada until we find an alternative light”, he emphasized.**Roger Sacyaten
