Scaling (not assaulting) Hingyon’s Mount Atugo

By Anthony A. Araos

Many visitors in the Philippines are attracted to the mountains. This is a built-in advantage of the six provinces and two cities comprising the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
It is for this reason that one such mountain in Ifugao province is now the focus of attention in the effort to draw local and foreign tourists.
I’m, of course, referring to Mount Atugo in Hingyon town. Early on of April this year, the Mount Atugo Assault (a word I’m uncomfortable with and would rather say as Climb, Hey guys haven’t you forgotten that General Tomoyuki Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army has long surrendered in Kiangan and its already peacetime. So just bring your bag packs and no assault rifles please) has been scheduled. From here on, I now describe it as Mount Atugo Climb.
This is certainly good news for mountain climbers and other-related enthusiasts.
Mount Atugo is clearly a part of the Cordillera Mountain ranges. So the place is a respite this summer season because of its cool weather all year round.
This lung-busting activity is tailored to test the mountain climbing skills of many. It aims to develop a mountain climbers’ confidence in scaling stratospheric heights.
Every climber will succeed! I have a strong feeling that the activity’s organizers are focused on making their attempt of climbing Mount Atugo a big success.
Now, I’m really wondering why a noteworthy activity as this one is not being aggressively promoted by those in official circles of the provincial government as a means of boosting the tourism industry.
With the Department of Tourism (DOT) eyeing increased tourist arrivals this summer, the irony is that there is no roadmap on what forward-looking program should be taken, where those should take place, what costs would be incurred, where the money would come from, and which entities will be responsible for the various roles required in effectively implementing this program. Well, what I saw was an obscure tarpaulin hanging in Lagawe.
It is now time for Governor Pedro Mayam-o to bring in intelligent men and women in the private sector to invigorate the tourism office. New faces that can make the tourism agenda really work. This is what Governor Mayam-o must do now so that more and more tourists are to visit the province. Sadly, Ifugao’s inbound tourism is lagging very, very far behind not just in the CAR but all throughout Northern Luzon.
The optimistic view is to smartly and aggressively promote the Mount Atugo climb, as has been done in Benguet province in so far as Mount Pulag is concerned. This can be done in several key places in Metro Manila or in the National Capital Region (NCR) where foreign tourists usually enter initially the country. For instance, a tarpaulin should be placed at the Ohayami Trans terminal in Sampaloc, Manila (as well as other bus terminals) where American, European and Asian travelers frequent. So far, there is no such tarpaulin.
Being innovative, creative and imaginative can’t hurt the chances of arresting the slide of tourism industry in Ifugao. How about telling the travelers from the United States, Germany or Italy that it’s a wonderful idea to include Mount Atugo in their itinerary all because they’ll get to appreciate this destination enveloped by clean mountain air unlike the polluted areas in Metro Manila.
Ifugao’s tourism players in the public sector have to do what their counterparts in Benguet, Mountain Province, Abra, Apayao and Kalinga have been doing. Common sense has brought to the fore the need for a deepening involvement of competent and brilliant planners and adoption of sound and updated programs in addressing the problems of Ifugao’s tourism industry. I repeat common sense! To all concerned parties: Never stop thinking of better ways to improve the province’s dismal tourism record. Unattractiveness of the province to travelers is simply unacceptable and must altogether be addressed.
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Many of Ifugao’s social workers pray and want better conditions for themselves and their loved ones. Clearly, the common thread of the views being expressed is that overworked by underpaid municipal social welfare and development office personnel deserve a better deal.
With the above, Social and Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ifugao may be interested in the following observations: That the municipal social welfare development office personnel in Lagawe have been stripped of their hazard and subsistence pays. These benefits are well provided for under Republic Act 9433, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Public Social Workers. In other words, this is a matter of enforcing the national law.
Believe it or not, these cash-strapped personnel are entitled to receive a daily subsistence pay of only Php 50. Yet, this meager amount is being denied during these difficult economic times. Now, give me a credible explanation or proof why they should not be given their subsistence pay. Well, Php 50 is just about enough to buy a kilo of rice (NFA rice pegged at Php 27) and a small-sized slice of meat. A subsistence pay is really intended to augment a lowly compensation of an employee. Low-income workers as the abovementioned ones surely lack the resources to provide their families proper nutrition, health care or sustain them through high school, even if basic education is free. To my mind, this is an act of bad faith on the part of the officialdom whose avowed goal ironically is to promote the people’s welfare.
It would be recalled that social workers throughout the country worked so hard for many years just to have Republic Act 9433 be enacted into law. In less than five minutes, everything is gone.
It has been almost two decades since Republic Act 9433 was enacted, making it a civil and administrative liability to violate the same. The law expressly mandated the provision of hazard and subsistence pays, even clothing allowance, longevity pay and housing, transportation and living allowances.
Even without knowledge of the law, it is common sense that the provision of a subsistence pay reflected the government’s way of caring for the underprivileged. Removing it does not countenance good governance.
Without a doubt, it is grossly inexcusable to deprive them the lawfully-prescribed benefits such as hazard and subsistence pays they rightfully own. Attention: Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.
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Another round table discussion on the local government endorsement process for the planned Alimit Hydroelectric Power Complex in Ifugao was held on March 27 in Baguio City. Provincial government bigwigs were in attendance. In 2015, the first round table discussion took place.
Invitations extended to Governor Mayam-o and Vice Governor Jose Jordan Gullitiw as well as the ten Board Members showed the importance of the proposed project. It will do the province good for them to inform their constituents of what were discussed in Baguio and their respective positions on issues regarding creation, transmission and marketing of electric power. People should think hard whenever they hear officials asking them to back up mega projects as this one, especially when they involve a vast environmental landscape.
Discussions and other engagements initiated by the SN Aboitiz Power Group have already taken deep root and would likely continue to bear fruit well past this year. There is also a plan to hold another session this April.
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Let’s talk briefly about the forthcoming barangay polls. Yes, the incoming elections for barangay council officials since most senators are not inclined to support the idea of not holding it at all, as scheduled on October of this year.
Of course, there are pros and cons of this issue. What’s your position? Speak out and be heard. What’s my take? In my opinion, I see no compelling reason not to push through with the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in seven months-time.
There is very real risk of having a barangay government official like the Punong Barangay or Kagawad (councilman) whose loyalty is ascribed to just one individual rather than the electorate. Do you expect the village chieftain not to toe the line of the President who appointed him or her in the first place? Your answer is as good as mine. If so, it is a disservice to the people and nation.
Reading the pronouncements of Malacaòang, I thought about the connection of narco-politics to the barangay polls. What happens now with the declaration that Ifugao is already a drug-free province? This only gives credence to the contention of holding the barangay polls in Ifugao. Postponing it in Ifugao, in particular, becomes unthinkable and gives way to suspicion of disenfranchising the people from exercising their right to suffrage.
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Congratulations to Maria Kristel Dominong who graduated with honors recently at Don Bosco High School in Lagawe. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey Dominong, general manager of Ifugao Global Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IGEMCO).
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Congratulations and best wishes to Arianne Kay Tayaban who obtained recently her degree in Pharmacy from Arellano University in Manila. She is an incoming medicine student in Valenzuela City. Her parents owned a popular water-refilling station in Lagawe.
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Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” The late American President John F. Kennedy
“It is the weakest who are correct. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.” Leo Roskin
“Hear both sides before judging.” It’s my all-time favorite ever since grade school days in Caloocan City.**