New tourist hubs in southern Sagada now open

• Published date: 03 November 2022
• Publication title: Philippines News agency

Tourists in Sagada, Mountain Province will have new places to visit and enjoy after community members gave the green light to the opening of the villages for organized tours.

'Marami pang destination at kasama natin ang community sa pagbubukas at pag-welcome ng mga bisita para ma enjoy din nila ang iba pang magagandang lugar sa Sagada (there are still other destinations and we are one with the community in opening them and welcoming the visitors to enjoy the other beautiful places in Sagada),' Mayor Felicito Dula said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

The southern zone composed of four villages -- Ankileng, Nacagan, Takkong and Suyo (ANTS) launched the 'Southern Sagada nature treat, tour and adventure,' before All Saints' Day.

The opening of additional tourist attractions in Sagada was earlier proposed to attract more tourists and put Sagada on the bucket list of local and international tourists.

Southern Sagada has the Obwa Canyon waterfalls, Takkong traditional burial grounds, Balangagan caves and the Pinumdeng skyline sunrise as among the attractions.

A camp site was also set up near the barangay hall of Suyo, which will have a tourist information center where coordination can be done and tour guides will be provided for the safety of the visitors aside from a ComPAC (Community Police Assistance Center).

Sagada, which has 19 villages is divided into five zones -- central, south-central, northern, eastern, and southern zones.

The eastern zone, where the Marlboro Hills is located, is expected to be launched anytime.

Dula said most of the existing and popular tourist destinations are located in central and south central zones like the Echo-Valley, Hanging Coffins, pottery, Sagada weaving, Bokong Falls and the Kiltepan sunrise, same as the town proper or Poblacion.

'They are ready to receive the tourists. The tour guides have been trained and accredited to bring the visitors and make them safe while in the village,' the mayor said.

Culture preservation thru tourism

Councilor Jaime Dugao, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of the town, during the launching of the southern Sagada nature treat, tour and adventure said that Sagada's tourism is not just about the place but most especially about the people and the culture.

'In accepting...