published August 7, 2009 in BusinessWorld
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Tourism (DoT) will embark on two major projects this year to further improve the river cruise and Sohoton Cave trek in Basey, Samar, a promising tourism hub in Eastern Visayas.
DoT regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes said a team from the central office was sent to Basey to identify projects that would improve the facilities within the year.
The team was composed of Allan Canizal, head of the planning office, Director Maria Victoria Jasmin, head of the tourism standard office, and an architect from the University of the Philippines.
The team has identified the need for a docking area that will make entry to the cave more convenient and a trail that will conserve the cave.
The project was proposed by Basey Mayor Wilfredo Estorninos, who earlier said that their town needs alternative sources of livelihood. The town has been dependent on logging operations for over 30 years.
Presently, visitors have to walk along the shoreline to ride a boat in Barangay Inuntan (located about 18 kilometers away from Basey town proper), the main takeoff point for the boats that bring visitors to the world-famous cave through the Golden River.
The boat can carry up to 30 tourists and a crew, including a singer and guitarist. It is more spacious than the vessels used for the famous river cruise in Bohol.
There is a tour package featuring add-ons such as river-cruise meals, trained and uniformed guides, a catering service and overnight lodgings.
The DoT, according to Ms. Tiopes, extended a P230,000 grant for the skills training and supplies, while the municipal government allotted a counterpart fund of P100,000 to construct the boat.
It is the only operating boat designed for river cruising although there are also kayaks that carry visitors to the mouth of the cave.
The project, which was launched in May is operated by the Basey Tourism Services Association (BATOSAN) which has received technical and financial assistance from the Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Ecotourism (GREET) program.
"Aside from providing convenience to visitors in getting off the boat, the docking area will also serve as shoreline protection. It should be a structure that should not destroy the natural beauty of the place," Ms. Tiopes told BusinessWorld.
The Tourism department will also set up a trail inside the cave to conserve the cave and prevent visitors from touching the stalagmites, stalactites, cave walls and formations.
"It is the path that every visitor should follow. This is to minimize disturbance of formations since these are carefully preserved. People can’t stop from touching the formations even if it’s not allowed," Ms. Tiopes said.
Part of the project includes the lighting up of some areas to allow guests to appreciate rock formations from afar.
Experts said oil smears from the human skin are like graffiti that could ruin the natural "growth" of the rocks and cause them to turn brown or black.
Cave exploration in Sohoton is easier since it requires no risky climb or descent, just a continuous walk on mostly level ground.
Basey’s Sohoton caves are part of an 840-hectare forest area that was declared a national park in 1935.
The caves have been drawing tourists, hobbyists, researchers and even treasure hunters. Aside from the caves, the park also boasts of natural wonders like waterfalls and underground streams.
"Back then, visitors hired local boatmen and guides, brought their own food, and tried to make it back to the city before dark," Ms. Tiopes said.
Since May this year, all services needed by tourists have been provided by the 20-member Sohoton Services Association (SSA), which handles the Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Eco-Adventure project. The launch was led by Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano.
"We want ecotourism to become a way of life for the people here in Basey. Right now it is additional income for them, but our vision is that this will become their main livelihood," Mr. Durano said at the launch.
Apart from donating equipment like kayaks, coveralls, helmets and other safety gear, the DoT last year started training some 60 villagers in Basey on the basics of "visitor management," eco-tour planning and marketing, food preparation and first aid, among
others.
With the skills training, guides and housewives are on their way to becoming quality service providers. Both the SSA and the Batosan will also provide catering services and operate souvenir shops in the area.
Last month, the Tourism office brough eight cave guides from Sohoton and Rawis Caves to Palawan to enhance their guiding skills through an actual tour of the caves with professional cave guides.
"We want to train them through observation in such a way that guests will enjoy the tour from the cave guides’ conversational skills and sense of humor," Ms. Tiopes said. - Sarwell Q. Meniano
