PGLU PARTAKES IN DENR’s 1st REGIONAL CAVE SUMMIT
[wp-svg-icons icon="user" wrap="span"] By: Arnel O. Mamaril, PITO–LU | [wp-svg-icons icon="camera" wrap="span"] By: Omme Atiyah B. Gonting | [wp-svg-icons icon="calendar" wrap="span"] Date: June 04, 2018
CAVE SUMMIT. Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste welcomes the participants of the 1st Regional Cave Summit held at Vista De las Islas, Brgy. Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan on May 22, 2018. In said training, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel "Pacoy" R. Ortega III sent two participants from the La Union Tourism Office. Photo by: Omme Atiyah B. Gonting
With the aim to develop more tourism products, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) joined the 1st Regional Cave Summit conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources I (DENR I) with the theme “Gearing Up for Responsible Cave Ecotourism in Region I” held at Alaminos City, Pangasinan.
The three-day summit was participated in by different local government unit offices, national line agencies, and selected private organizations in the Region. On the first day of the summit, the participants visited the different caves and islands in Alaminos such as the Virgin Island Cave, Cathedral Cave, Marcos Island, Bat Island, Governor’s Island, Quezon Island, and Pilgrimage Island. On the next day, the opening of the photo exhibit of various caves in the region was held.
The DENR invited lecturers from the Gaia Exploration Club, a Philippine non-government organization devoted to the exploration, study, and conservation of the environment. They discussed the wonders and significance of caves as well as how to assess and classify caves. They also imparted the history of caving in the Philippines and the safeguard in ecotourism, mandated cave management and management planning.
Verginia Manuba, president of Punong Tour Guides Association in Bagombongan, Marinduque was invited to share her knowledge on how they promote and protect the Bagombongan Cave.
On the last day of the cave summit, the participants together with the Gaia Club visited the Nalsoc and Angel Cave in Bani, Pangasinan to further experience the cave trip.
The summit likewise made a clear visualization on how to manage and keep La Union caves protected once open to tourists. The summit emphasized the importance and protection of our caves and the need for awareness of responsible ecotourism in the province. Mainstreaming of potential caves in the province can give a new face to the industry.
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