BARLIG, Mtn. Prov.– Mayor Genesis Changilan issued Executive Order No. 34, series of 2018, “Establishing the Temporary Closure of the Mt. Amuyao – Batad Traverse under the Barlig Municipal Tourism Office Trekking Destination”, effective May 1, 2018.
The problem on waste disposal caused by tourists trekking the Batad – Mt. Amuyao traverse with guides from Banaue, Ifugao resulted in the issuance of the order..
Piles of waste at the summit of Mt. Amuyao have been reported to the municipal and provincial tourism offices in the past. Even face book pages or the social media carry complaints of garbage left at the peak.
The order cites that tourists and guides from Banaue, Ifugao do not register at the Barlig Municipal Tourism Office and, thus, are not monitored by the tourism office. They come to the summit and then return to Batad the following day.
The bunker at the summit is locked since it is reserved only for tour guides and tourists coming from Barlig but incidents were reported wherein the padlock was detached and the bunker used without any permission from the Barlig Municipal Tourism Office or from any local tour guide.
The trekking time for this trail is six (6) hours but tourists usually spend the night along the way.
Mt. Amuyao is the tenth highest peak in the entire country and is frequented by many tourists, foreign and locals alike.
A new trekking trail from Mt. Amuyao – Kadaclan will be introduced to the public. Covering two (2) clusters of Kadaclan and Lias, the 4 hour trekking trail leads to the wonderful Kadaclan rice terraces, Amfitayok waterfalls of Barangay Ogo-og, Monyopoyop waterfalls and Lettang burial cave of Barangay Lunas, among others.
Kadaclan is better known as the “Shangrila on the Edge”. Kadaclan Homestay is the only lodging facility in the area.
Nearby Lias offers tourism spots such as the historical Lias Marker that embodies the struggle of the Lias people against the Japanese in World War II, and the various mystical waterfalls, among others.
Barlig is known as the last frontier of Mountain Province as it hosts the only lush virgin forest left in the province.
It is home to Lake Tufob, Sibraow Talaw, Mt. Amuyao, hotsprings, and various waterfalls.
It is referred to as the next tourism destination for nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts.**Roger Sacyaten
