Tangub City releases P26M for eco-tourism site dev't

TANGUB CITY, Misamis Occidental, Aug 17 (PIA) -- The local government of Tangub has released P26 million for the development of the Eco-Tourism Model Site of the Mt. Malindang Ranges Natural Park (RNP) in Barangay Hoyohoy, this city.

The project aims to establish a visitors’ center, viewing deck, camping site facilities and a botanical garden to showcase the unique and rare species of flora found inside the Mt. Malindang RNP, Mayor Philip Tan, who led its recent ground-breaking and capsule laying ceremony, said.

Barangay Hoyohoy is one of the upland barangays in the protected area of Mt. Malindang RNP that significantly possesses natural beauty and grandeur, which becomes an avenue for eco-tourism adventure facilities.

Situated in the open area at the foot of the Mt. Malindang RNP, the site faces the south peak and located 850 meters above sea level (asl), in the highlands of Tangub and only about 700 meters below Mt. Ampiro, the lowest peak of the mountain ranges of Mt. Malindang.

Its view spans to the other six ranges with summits from 1,700 m-2,400 m asl and the areas in the towns of Kolambugan, Tubod and Maigo in Lanao del Norte across Panguil Bay and those of the neighboring city of Ozamiz, and the municipalities of Clarin and Tudela in the east and Bonifacio and Don Victoriano in the south.

Tan said the sustainable financing project through the development of eco-tourism model site inside the Mt. Malindang is for the protection and management of the park for its perpetual existence.

An inventory of plant species in the Mt. Malindang RNP in 2004 said that there are 1,284 species, 472 genera and 187 families. Of these, 873 were considered as angiosperms, 20 as gymnosperms, 280 as pterodophytes, 85 as byrophytes and 25 species as lechens.

Likewise, of the pterodophytes, the number of species recorded represented about 44 percent of 632 species found in Mindanao.

The identification of the site is a laudable strategy to sustainably manage its abundant resources, which is envisioned to greatly boost the protection activities in the park and Mt. Malindang’s environs.

“It will invite tourists from all walks of life to experience nature that leads to sustainable management,” the mayor said.

Located at the southern curve of the D-shape province of Misamis Occidental, in the island of Mindanao, Tangub City is bounded by Mt. Malindang in the north, Ozamiz City in the east, Paguil Bay in the south and the municipality of Bonifacio in the west.

It can be reached by plane in one hour and 20 minutes from Manila, one-night travel by boat from Cebu City and three hours and 30 minutes ride by bus from Cagayan de Oro City.

The ground-breaking was attended by the representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Centre for Bio-Diversity (ACB), which awarded the “Plaque Recognizing Mt. Malindang RNP as an Asean Heritage Park in the Philippines,” and the ACB-German Organization (GIZ) which handed over its certificate of approval to Governor Herminia M. Ramiro of Misamis Occidental.

After the ground-breaking, Tan also led the tree planting of some 200 trees of the Igem and Almaciga species in the area, together with the participants of the second National Asean Heritage Park Conference, held in the province. (EOR/RCA-PIA10, Misamis Occidental)

Sourced: pia.gov