Samar investment and trade promotion office chief, Brett de los Santos, confirmed on Thursday that the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) recently approved funding for the cave.
The project will
cover the installation of lights inside the cave, and rehabilitation and
improvement of the damaged jetty.
The TIEZA-funded
project will begin within the month and will be completed in time for the
summer season.
“People who explore
the cave just bring flashlights. If there are lightings, they will fully
appreciate the beauty of Sohoton Cave," de los Santos said.
Lightings, he said,
would ensure that people walk within the trail and not step on growing
stalagmites formed from water drops of root trees thriving above.
The water that drips
from the cave ceiling forms one square inch of stalagmite for a span of 100
years. Some visitors accidentally step on those formations.
Sohoton’s stalagmites
come in varied sizes, some of which look like an elephant, the Statue of
Liberty, rice terraces, the Great Wall of China, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol,
natural musical organ, a beehive, human body parts, an eagle, guards, and
jellyfish.
The local government
invites both young and old to explore the cave since it requires no risky climb
or descent, just a continuous walk on the mostly level ground.
Sohoton Cave is
within a national park and was established on July 19, 1935 by virtue of
Proclamation No. 831, primarily to preserve its geological features and natural
wonders. It was named Sohoton Cave Natural Park but this was changed in 2005 to
Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge.
A magnificent stone
bridge, from which the park got its name, connects two mountain ridges over the
Sohoton River. The Panhulugan Cave I is the largest and most spectacular
endogenic cave, while Panhulugan Cave II is a long scar that cuts into the face
of Panhulugan Cliff.
Sohoton Cave is a
very large endogenic cave situated in the eastern portion of the natural
bridge. It has a high cathedral-like dome with an entrance of parabolic arch.
Bugasan and Capigtan
Caves are smaller caves similar to the Sohoton Cave.
The whole area has
the typical appearance of karst formations with an intriguing variety of deep
shafts and sinkhole caves, rock-shelters, underground rivers, and bizarre
weather-sculpted rock formations.
All the caves are
situated in the rugged limestone cliffs that line the river, creating a
magnificent scenery.
Traces of early
habitation, dating as far back as the Iron and Stone Ages, have been found in
the different caves.
These caves are also
believed to have been used as burial sites for the natives and a mecca for
medicine men who hunt and prepare their potions. The caves were also used as
hideouts of Filipino “Insurrectos” during the Spanish-American War.
Aside from its
enchanting beauty and geological wonders, the park is endowed with a rich stock
of forest vegetation that serves as home to varied forms of endemic, rare and
endangered Philippine fauna. Mammals and reptiles abound in the park, along
with freshwater fish, crabs, and shrimps.
The cave is
accessible through a boat ride along Basey’s Golden River, considered as
Samar’s prized jewel. The town is about 40 kms. from Tacloban City, the
regional capital. (RTA/PNA)
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