Thrilling treks from Alegria to Badian

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/08/09/thrilling-treks-alegria-badian-423680
• Sunday, August 9, 2015

By Oscar C. Pineda

ADVENTURE-SEEKERS are finding thrills in exploring the Alegria-Badian River, which the Provincial Government plans to promote as one of Cebu’s tourist destinations.

“The clamor is there,” said Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

In a popular canyoneering adventure developed in the area, participants follow a river from Barangay Compostela in Alegria to Barangay Matutinao in Badian, said 36-year-old guide Felix “Nonoy” Guardiario.

The four-hour trek includes high and low dives; swimming between rock openings; crawling under huge boulders; scaling a rock wall using ropes; and going through rock holes.

“Naa’y murag cathedral, mga nindot nga mga view (There’s a cavern that looks like a cathedral, and some great views),” said Guardiario.

In one bend, the river has cut through solid rock, forming high walls on both sides.

Some guests find this a nice spot for a dive or to climb, holding on to vines.

There are a total of seven dive spots, from 20 to 50 feet high, Guardiario said.

Jumping is optional.

Worth the scratches

There are moss-covered inclined rock planes for those who wish to slide downstream.

Scratches are normal after the trek, the guide said, but the adventure makes one forget the pain.

Compostela Barangay Captain Joseph Redulla said the river trek starts from Sitio Kangmamhot in his barangay up to Kawasan Falls in barangay Matutinao, Badian, where one either rents a place to stay overnight or changes clothes and finds a ride back home to the city.

During weekdays, Barangay Compostela gets 30 to 40 guests daily. That climbs to more than a hundred during weekends and holidays, said 36-year-old Avelina Guardiario, who collects P20 for each entrance ticket.

Aside from the entrance fee, one needs to rent a helmet, life vest and aqua shoes, for a total of P200, said Avelina. An additional P100 is collected for those who want a waterproof bag and another P100 for a rope, if a guest needs one.

From the Alegria Municipal Hall, one takes a P10 jeepney ride, passing the main highway going to Badian, and stopping at the crossroads in Sitio Sangi, Barangay Madridejos, some eight kilometers away, said Redulla.

From the Sangi crossroad, adventurers then take a three-kilometer motorcycle-for-hire ride to the Barangay Compostela canyoneering entrance, for P50.

Guests must be at least 15 years old, Redulla said.

Those below 15 can join only if their parents let them, but young children are advised against doing the trek, the captain added.

When the river swells and the current becomes very strong, Alegria’s guides bar anyone from going canyoneering, to prevent accidents, said Guardario.

Some friction

Last July, Guardiario recalled denying entry to some guests of a guide from Badian, because the flood had made the water too murky. A few days later, when he guided guests to Matutinao, Barangay Captain Clemente Emperado punched him, leaving a scar on his upper lip.

He reported to the police but did not press charges. When asked why he said, “Wa ta’y ika-sukol ana (I don’t stand a chance).”

That night after the incident, Mayor Robburt Librando went to the interior Barangay Compostela to ask for an apology on behalf of the barangay captain, said Carmelito Lagrado, Alegria’s agriculture technician.

(Sun.Star Cebu’s requests for a comment from Emperado and Librando did not get a response.)

Magpale said she had heard about friction among some of the guides.

“I will meet with both mayors. Let’s have a dialogue,” the vice governor and tourism advocate said, pointing to the need for clear guidelines for the activity.

Redulla said that collectors turn over P10,000 per week, but last March, April and May—during the summer school break—they made more than that.

Provincial Board Member Celestino Martinez III, head of the federation of barangay councils in the province, went canyoneering with his family and friends last month, said Redulla.

He urged Magpale, who chairs the tourism committee in the Provincial Board, to include canyoneering as one of Cebu’s tourist attractions.

But Magpale said she will first check if the local governments involved are ready to accommodate a number of visitors, both local and foreign.

With the revenues and the mayor’s help, Redulla said they are improving facilities, like building an information center where guests can converge at the entrance in his barangay.

Alegria Mayor Verna Magallon said that the town will buy more safety gear for guests and improve a three-kilometer stretch of dirt road from the main highway.

At present, there is a huge tent in Compostela where safety gear is displayed for guests to choose from. They have a new comfort room, with a water system and tanks. But they still need an electrical connection to pump water.

Asked if Alegria has a problem in coordinating their tourism and environment efforts with Badian, Magallon said she has no problems with Mayor Librando. She added they will work on a joint watershed management system for the river that stretches through both their towns.

Magallon said that Alegria and Badian were able to get the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ assistance to develop a watershed area that feeds the Kankalanog River, which is connected to Kanlaob River in Barangay Compostela and leads down to Barangay Matutinao in Badian.

Jesus Ray Cabalida, the municipal planning officer, said they now have a watershed management council for Alegria-Badian.

This, after Alegria approved their forest land use plan (FLUP), in which they identified the watershed area that covers portions of Alegria and Badian. He is hoping that Badian’s council also passes their own FLUP, so their joint watershed management council could meet.

“In fact, we already included our watershed management in our PRDP (Philippine Rural Development Project),” said Cavalida. The PRDP is a World Bank project that funds rural initiatives, including those that improve farmers’ lives.