Vice Mayor Charlotte Gallego of the municipality of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur disclosed that the municipality’s local government unit will be enhancing its tourism sector by establishing new sights and experiences for visitors and adventure seekers.
Sta. Cruz is considered an emerging tourism destination, particularly known for its eco-tourism and adventure activities.
The municipality is actively developing its tourism sector, focusing on community-based ecotourism sites and promoting activities like trail running, hiking, and exploring natural attractions like Mt. Loay and Saliducon Cave.
According to Gallego, the LGU of Sta. Cruz is eyeing to develop the Sinoron and Pilan Rivers into ecotourism sites.
“We are planning to open or make a river ecotourism site involving the Sinoron and Pilan Rivers. We will categorize the river as a protected area and will develop it into a river cruise or set up huts and open it to business partners, and develop the area into a more attractive one,” Gallego told Edge Davao.
In his blog site, Sta. Cruz Tourism Officer Julius Paner described Sinoron as a mountainous barangay of Sta. Cruz, with almost all its sitios situated in a forested area, the majority of which belong to the Mt. Apo Natural Park.
Paner stated that the Pilan River serves as its main divisor, which almost equally divides the nineteen sitios. Sitio Pilan is the most common identity as the starting point of the forest sites.
Besides Sinoron and Pilan Rivers, Gallego said the LGU is also looking at transforming Mt. Loay into an eco-trail to entice more tourists and trekkers to visit Sta. Cruz.
Mt. Loay has an elevation of 1,040 meters (3,412 feet) above sea level. It’s a popular spot for hiking, often used as a training ground for more challenging climbs like Mt. Apo.
Gallego said revitalizing the municipality’s tourism sector is one of the priorities of Mayor Nelson “Tata” Sala to focus on in his second term in office.
“Ang marching mandate of the mayor is for these new tourism sites to happen sa kanyang second term,” she added.
Gallego also mentioned that the community in the municipality benefited from its tourism sector.
She cited the municipality’s ordinance, which states that the sharing of the profit of the income and regulatory fees in tourist sites will be shared by the community/barangay, through a certain percentage as well and if it is an ancestral land, will be shared with the IP community.
“Naka-specify doon sa ordinance yung manner and percentage of sharing,” Gallego said.
