As a precaution to tourists due to torrential rains the past days, Tublay, Benguet has announced the Bayokbok falls and the Bengaongao and Paterno caves will be off limits this month.
Mayor Armando Lauro said the closure of the tourist spots was also recommended by officials of barangays where the caves are located.
The Asin hot spring in Tuel will also open next month.
Lauro said the closure of thetourist sites will give the barangays time to prepare and improve their facilities.
Also, the municipality is waiting for the P6.4 million project by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for the improvement of the foot trail connecting the Bengaongao and Paterno caves.
The foot trail project that will complement the natural beauty of the caves is currently being assessed by engineers and they expect the project to start by next year.
The other tourist sites in Tublay that are open to the public are the Ahonda Park, Saguibalete Park, Alokip-Pinan Eco Trail, Nature Lover’s Garden, Kaalnusan Camping Ground, Payay Rock Climbing, Amando’s Lemon Picking Farm, and Beacon Hill Eco Park.
Beacon Hill Eco Park received the most share of the 36,000 tourist arrivals of the municipality from January to September this year, according to the Municipal Tourism Office.
Tublay’s other natural wonders are Mount Pokkong, Ketong Falls or the Blue Lagoon, and Siam-Siam Falls.
Lauro said tour guides and tourism personnel are undergoing continuous training.
“We are also ur-ging our residents to be the one to promote our own tourist sites and of course our own culture,” Lauro said.
The municipality has sought the assistance of the Department of Tourism in training interested residents who plan to open their homes to tourists in line with the campaign to the host communities to adopt the homestay program. – Ofelia C. Empian
