BONTOC, Mtn. Prov. – Personnel of the Provincial Tourism Office here validated existing and new tourist attractions in the western municipalities of the province August to December 2017.
Last August 30, 2017, the staff went to Tadian to see the Layog Farm and the Singing Jar and others.
The Layog Farm is the first accredited agri-tourism site by the Department of Tourism and as agri – learning site by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI-CAR) and the Department of Trade and Industry.
It has sprawling a 25 hectare area for vegetable, flower and, livestock production, in the midst of fruit trees and cottages where tourists may billeted for a night or two.
The Singing Jar is owned by the family of Rex Wanget, Barangay Captain of Bunga, who said that the ware was handed down from one generation to another. It is of Chinese origin and can produce a melody, but can be discriminate against some people.
Last November 9, the group went to Sagada, to the Sunrise at Kiltepan, Echo Valley, Hanging Coffins, St. Mary the Virgin Church, and the Lumyang Cave. On November 14 – 15, the group went to see the Malboro Country, Blue Soil, Bumud-ok falls, the Fedilisan Rice Terraces, and the Bokong falls.
Francis Degay, the leader of the group, said that they have to validate the sites to ascertain developments, possible provisions of facilities, and improvements of access with the end in view of improving tourist arrivals to the sites.
Last November 16, the group proceeded to Tadian to validate the Binaybay si Kabunian, Poy-asan Falls, Giant Frog Rock and Ub-ubanan Falls, all in Masla.
The wonderful Mt. Oona was the site to behold on November 17, as the group climbed the mountain until the peak entering from Data where the surrounding barangays of Sabangan, some of Bauko, and Tadian can be viewed.
On December 4-5, the group validated Toktok Allan and Layaan Cave in Abatan, Cotcot Aso, and the Spanish trail in Bagnen Proper and Mount Polis and the Capnay House in Bagnen Oriente, the Healing Cave and World War II Airfield in Balintaugan.
The group went back to Tadian on December 7 to validate the Pandayan Rice Terraces in Lenga, the Enchanted Eel in Cagubatan, and Gawaan Lake, among others.
The Stone calendar in Gueday, Lake Banao for the iBesaos and Lake Danum for the iSagadas, pottery making and souvenir shops in Sagada were the next destinations for the group last December 8.
On December 12, the group went to validate the Marky Cielo Shrine and Mount Data Hotel in Sinto, the Cada Vegetable Farms, and Mount Bandilaan in Pactil, Monamon Sur.
The group is still to validate the attractions in Bontoc and in other towns and to come out with the validation results or assessment of the foregoiing sites.** Roger Sacyaten
