Samboan gears up for influx of tourists

Samboan town is making access to their town easier by upgrading roads as they prepare for more tourists visiting their ecotourism and heritage sites. CDN PHOTO/CRIS EVERT LATO RUFFOLO

Road upgrades undertaken, trained guides registered, homestay option explored

Capitalizing on the influx of tourists in Cebu, the southern town of Samboan is working on upgrading their road networks and training personnel to keep up with international standards.

Vice Mayor Emerito Calderon Jr. said they hope to complete upgrades of roads leading to the town’s eight waterfalls in the next two years.

Calderon did not specify the amount that will be spent for these developments but noted that this is one of the town’s priority programs.

“This is a program that will make our roads safe and make our tourists’ experience memorable,” he said.

Calderon said the number of tourists visiting Samboan was only 16,000 between 2014 to 2015 when Aguinid Falls became a popular destination topic on social media.

In 2016, the number grew to 165,000 tourists. In 2017, the number further increased to 200,000 tourists.

Along with improving the roads, Calderon said community guides are also registered. He said each waterfall has designated guides from the barangay where it is located.

While the town still has limited accommodation options, Calderon said they are also working on encouraging the locals to consider adopting the homestay alternative.

“Clean rooms are important. If they have extra space in their house, then that (homestay) is possible,” he said.

Calderon said Samboan also get tourists from Mindanao via sea travel as there are daily trips from the town to Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Note province and vice versa.

Samboan is located about 150 kilometers south of Cebu City and boasts of natural attractions including waterfalls, lakes, springs, caves, mountains and a marine sanctuary.

Its heritage treasures include the Saint Michael the Archangel Parish Church and the three-storey Campanario de Antigua (Ancient Watchtower) which dates back to the Spanish colonization era.

Samboan was one of the 22 featured towns and cities during the three-day Lumba’g Laag sa Sugbo.

Lumba’g Laag sa Sugbo is a tourism race organized for the second year by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in time for the Cebu Business Month (CBM).

It was held from June 10 to 12 with 18 participating teams.

Caldero said Lumbag Laag sa Sugbo highlights the natural wonders of Samboan and promotes the town’s eco-tourism destinations.

CBM Tourism Committee Chairperson Edwin Ortiz said the tourism race emphasizes the relevance of eco-tourism as the new agriculture.

“Lumba’g Laag sa Sugbo has a huge impact on these towns and is a big help to locals. By having eco-tourism destinations here, people do not need to go to the city to seek employment. They can find jobs in their hometowns,” he said.