Suspension of extreme sport in Alegria, Badian to be lifted on Sept. 1
Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy canyoneering activities again in southern Cebu towns starting Sept. 1 when the Capitol lifts the suspension of holding this extreme sport in these towns.
Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head, confirmed in a phone interview yesterday the reopening of the canyoneering activity on Sept. 1 in Alegria and Badian.
Tribunalo, however, said that they had yet to discuss the specifics and final preparations for the reopening of the canyoneering activities there.
In Alegria town, canyoneering enthusiasts would need to book from accredited operators by the municipal government to enjoy canyoneering there, said Alegria Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Mae Listones in a phone interview yesterday.
These accredited tour operators would not be allowed to accept walk-in canyonering clients.
Listones said this would be done to ensure that those who would participate in canyoneering activities would undergo the proper process and protocol to ensure the safety of the canyoneering enthusiasts.
Last June 1, this extreme sport was temporarily suspended by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III because of safety issues.
“With regards (sic) to safety management, we already put medical stations, and there is also a standby ambulance,” said Listones.
She said that on Sept. 1, however, the canyoneering activities of the town would only be limited to the town’s Barangay Compostela.
Canyoneering involves jumping from cliffs into the water, wading in the river, scaling rock walls and walking.
She said the Alegria local government was not sure if Badian had already complied with the requirements to hold the canyoneering activity.
“We were adviced (then) by the Capitol to go on drafting the ordinance (for the guidelines of canyoneering) but limit it to Alegria. Until such time na finalize na ang ordinance, the first jump and last jump will only be at Barangay Compostela,” she said.
However, Tribunalo said that the lifting of the suspension would include Badian town.
“Of course, Badian should be included because that’s where the activity ends. But there are things we still have to work on,” Tribunalo said.
Listones said, for now, the whole canyoneering trail for Alegria would only be in Barangay Compostela, which is 800 meters from the first jump to the last jump of the trail.
The canyoneering trail before the suspension was in Kanlaob River, which traverses both towns. The trail then started at Barangay Compostela in Alegria and ended at Barangay Matutinao in Badian town.
Listones also said that the town had 70 tour guides who were trained by the PDRRMO, which included emergency response, basic life support and basic first aid.