TOURISTS navigate part of the 1.6-kilometer stretch of white water at Pangi River in barangay New La Union (NLU) in Maitum, Sarangani Province.
NLU White Water Tubing Eco Park draws an average of 25 tourists per day who pay an entrance fee of P10, and P200 for the tube ride. An e-trike ride around the park is available for P150 per 30 minutes, while mountain bikes are available for rent at P100/hour. River swimming with a guide costs P500/group for three hours. Also, for a fee of P500/group of 10 persons, the eco park offers a trek to nearby Tabilang Falls. After all this activity, guests can partake of organic food such as native chicken tinola (soup) or adobong manok (chicken stewed in vinegar and soy sauce) with servings good for 10 persons (P450). Also on the menu is marinated bangsi (flying fish) at P15 per serving and MASE Juice, a concoction of brewed roasted brown rice and herbs (lemon grass, oregano, pandan, tarragon, turmeric) blended with fruits (the native citrus called calamansi, guava, passion fruit, kamias or bilimbi, and guyabano), a product developed with MASE or Maitum Advocates for Sustainable Environment. Pangi River is one of the country’s cleanest rivers, but the eco park is threatened by illegal mining and logging activities in its headwaters.
