Heading south for Suroy Suroy eco-spots

Visitors step down the Escala de Jacob (Jacob’s Ladder) in Samboan town.
(CDN FILE PHOTO)

Visitors who come to Cebu for the Sinulog festival or to rekindle their faith in the Feast of the Sto. Niño, have a reason to stay longer and explore Cebu.

The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, a countryside tour organized by the Cebu provincial government, offers a three-day swing to south Cebu to show less-known eco-tourism and heritage spots.

Scheduled a few days after the Sinulog grand parade, this year’s “Southern Getaway”package on Jan. 21 to 23  offers refreshing experiences like a dip in the Mainit Springs in Malabuyoc town, and swimming in the Aguinid Falls in Samboan town, places not found in standard tour guide books.

Over the years, the program has attracted a mix of balikbayans, foreign and local tourists.

Large air-conditioned Ceres tourist buses will bring about 200 participants down south,  stopping by towns of Barili, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Samboan, Oslob, Boljoon, Santander, Dalaguete, Argao, Carcar City, and Talisay City.

Participants, who start with breakfast in Carcar City, known for its shoe products and tasty chicharon, will have a chance to visit ancestral houses, Spanish-period churches, try local delicacies  and explore towns at a leisurely pace.

Each participant will be charged P7,000 to P14,000, depending on the resorts they choose to stay in.

The tour will push through despite the damage typhoon Seniang wrought in some parts of southern Cebu last December.

“The Suroy-Suroy is already institutionalized to be held the Wednesday after Sinulog,” said Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, chairperson of the tourism committee.

At least 80 bookings were made since December last year.

“I was worried because the bridge in Sibonga was damaged and the Boardwalk in Alcantara, one of our tour sites, was also destroyed,” she told reporters.

Except for Alcantara, whose one-kilometer bamboo boardwalk through a mangrove forest was ruined by the storm forcing officials to beg off from joining, all other towns remain on the itinerary.

A temporary steel bridge is being installed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in barangay Dumlog, Sibonga with a promise to finish work before the Sinulog parade on Jan. 18.

The vice governor said she hopes balikbayans and other tourists will take advantage of the rural experience.

“The better for them to see the southern part of Cebu especially because our emphasis this year is eco tourism. They will also witness how the Cebuanos are coping with the effects of Seniang,” she said.