Island hop by zipline in Calbayog City

Text and photos by Lottie S. Salarda

CALBAYOG CITY — A 45-minute trek along a scenic path at the Malajog Nature Park here takes you to the take-off point for a 750-meter zipline down to the islet of Daraja.

The zipline, which opened on Easter Sunday, is among the first projects under the local government’s plan to make tourism a major income earner for this city. It is the first zipline in the Eastern Visayas, the region that bore the brunt of super-typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in December 2012 and which had been among the country’s poorest areas even before the calamity.

The city government spent P10 million to develop and organize the eco-tourism activity, partly sourced from the bottom-up budgeting fund. Next in line is setting up a sky-cycle from Daraga to another islet called Kutay.

Fishermen who own motorboats have also been organized for ferrying visitors from Daraga back to the mainland for a set fee of P10 per person.

Miguel S. Quesada, owner of the Daraga Islet, said the profit from the zipline fees will go to the preservation of the corals around the island, which have been heavily damaged due to dynamite fishing. He said he believes that with the alternative livelihood from tourism, they will be able to nurse the environment back to health.

Mayor Ronaldo P. Aquino said the city is spending a big portion of the local budget to develop its natural attractions.

“I do believe that we have a lot to offer. We have waterfalls, nice beaches, caves, pilgrim sites, hot springs… it will help the people to have livelihoods,” Mr. Aquino said.

Construction of an access road to another tourism site, Bangon falls, is ongoing.

“Hopefully after [the May] elections, ma-full blast tayo sa (we go full blast with the) tourism program,” the mayor said.

For this year, the city government is aiming to increase tourist arrivals by 5%-7% from the 99,000 visitors who came in 2015.

“We have newly opened hotels that are ready for accommodating guests,” Mr. Aquino said.

(Philippine Airlines flies between Manila and Calbayog. Malajog Nature Park is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, but zipline activities will depend on the weather. The zipline fee is P250.)