Sarangani villagers bank on river thrills

MAITUM, Sarangani (2 September) — What started out as a pastime for local boys has turned a sleepy village into a tourist destination that exceeded expectations.

The sport is a 45-minute ride aboard a salbabida (inflated tire tube) past breathtaking drops, between huge boulders and amid green scenery along Pangi River’s rapids.

The river-tubing resort in barangay New La Union has attracted 6,802 visitors during the first half of this year. This number has almost surpassed the 6,915 arrivals in 2005, the first year of operations.

About three years back, the idea of tubing started with barangay councilman Digs Movilla and his friend Vincent Yabes.

Soon after, Gov. Migs Dominguez invited friends and government employees to try the adventure — until the sport caught popularity.

“This is a great place to unwind. What we are offering here is nature. No noise, and away from the stressful urban life,” said Dominguez.

The governor donated safety helmets and got some businessmen and provincial officials to give used tire tubes.

“People have been coming en masse. Some are repeat visitors who brought along friends,” said Movilla.

Movilla runs the resort with his wife Eunice and several T’boli women from the community. Barangay officials help in the operations.

Movilla noted that most visitors were coming from nearby provinces. A number of “balikbayans”, tourists from Manila and foreigners had finished the whitewater tubing challenge of 1.6 kilometers.

As of July this year 2,864 have challenged the rapids, compared to only 2,242 for the whole 2005.

Many stayed overnight not wanting to pass the chance to sleep in the resort where all you could hear at night is the river gushing.

“I did not think that a jewel is within these mountains,” said Mayeth Dollete, 27, a dentistry teacher from a university in Saudi Arabia.

“Such a wonderful experience. I have been to many tourist destinations in our country, but nothing beats this one. It is what you really call an adventure,” said Dollete who plans to bring her friends the next time she comes back to the Philippines. She is home every six months.

“Isa pa! The adrenaline rush is great and the people here makes you feel you are from this barangay,” said Engr. Jarlan Delfin of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and Reseda City, California after doing the rapids with Dollete and his friend Rene.

Per person tubing fee is only P70 with a fulltime guide. The “tuber” wears safety helmet, life vest and knee pads.

Movilla disclosed that 60% of the fees go to the guides and 5% for their medical allowance. Twenty percent goes to management while the remaining 15% goes to the barangay coffers.The barangay has earned P26,922 in fees from January to July this year.

“The people in our barangay are involved in this project,” Movilla said. “We need to protect our river too.”

Pangi River was adjudged in 2003 as the 3rd cleanest river in the country by the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran.

In 2002, village officials and residents fought off attempts by a cooperative to commercially log their watershed in the guise of a community-based forest management agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DENR eventually stopped the logging due to protests. But 100 trees had been cut in the watershed area, with at least 241 trees nearby ready to be felled.

As part of the Sarangani adventure circuit today, barangay officials plan to include trekking and showcase T’boli culture as added attractions at the site.

“We can do a lot of things here. We can find caves, view waterfalls and enjoy nature,” said barangay captain Telly Kaibal.

Kaibal said river-tubing has not only put their village in the tourism map but importantly, it gave jobs.

River guide Dondon Dodin, 26, used to bum around their barangay. “The river tubing adventure gave us the opportunity to earn a living,” Dodin said.

“It is not everyday that we earn but it is much better than earning nothing at all for the whole year,” Dodin added.

There are 27 guides for hire. A guide helps the “tuber” maneuver the snake-like route, with his own tube and a rope attached to the guest’s tube.

On a good day, a river guide can earn as much as P200. It is enough money for a place where the cost of living is very low.

The resort has open cottages for day picnics, a duplex overnight cottage, tents-for-rent and camping area.

“We offer food which average guests can afford,” Eunice said. An overnight package costs at least P340 per head with dinner, bed and breakfast.

For backpackers who want to cook, fresh vegetables are sold for as low as P5 a bunch. Native chicken costs P90 per kilo. On some days, passing huntsmen offer wild boar meat (P80 per kilo). (Sarangani IO/RIO-PIA 12)