KABANKALAN CITY -- A waterfall that releases a smoky shower of mist as it cascades down,  and  an eco-park 500 feet above sea level nestled beneath a canopy of trees that offers a view of southern Negros and beyond, are two of nature’s wonders in this city.

Both areas were once almost inaccessible but with the opening up of roads to enable authorities to better protect the forests came the opportunity to develop eco-tourism sites initially intended as weekend getaways for Kabankalanons, Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco said.

Today, the Mag-aso Leisure Camp in Sitio Dug-anon, Barangay Oringao, and Balicaocao Eco-Park in Sitio Balicaocao, Barangay Orong, are drawing out-of-town tourists, including foreigners, he said.

Sitio Balicaocao used to be a major watershed of Kabankalan but because it was nearly inaccessible, it was difficult to catch those illegally cutting trees in the area, the mayor said.

To stop the illegal cutting of trees, Zayco said he decided to build a road to Balicaocao and he invited then Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela to visit the area with him.

“There was no road all the way to Balicaocao so we had to hike to the area,” he said.

It was then that they discovered the ledge at the top of their climb with a great view that led to the development of the eco-park.

“I told Pidio (Zayco) it would be a good idea to develop Balicaocao because of the sweeping view of Kabankalan that shows all of the city like the Castaways of Los Angeles,” Coscolluela said.

On a clear day, one not only has a view of Kabankalan but also of neighboring Ilog, Cauayan, Himamaylan and Binalbagan, and, even of the crocodile-shaped Inampulugan island of Guimaras, Zayco said.

From Balicaocao, one also gets a fantastic sunset view, and, at night, of  the city lights flickering in the distance.

Zayco said the Kabankalan City government with permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, developed the 400-hectare eco-park  in 1997 that now has six cottages, a function room, picnic areas, a zipline and a swimming pool.

It is about nine kilometers from Kabankalan City proper and most of the road to the area has been cemented already. There are still some sections that are a bit rough, through.

The Mag-aso Leisure Camp nestled in the mountains is a 20-minute drive from the city proper. It is the home of the Mag-aso Falls that one can reach by walking down 108 man-made cement and steel steps. Although the walk down may be steep, there are railings to hold on to and landings in between to allow visitors to  sit and catch their breath.

The long walk down pays off because at the bottom, one gets a full view of the 75-foot waterfalls whose cascading waters look like they are emitting smoke. There is a slippery climb up a small hill where one can pose for great pictures and get  a closer view of the falls.

And to cool off after the climb down, one can jump into a natural pool at the bottom of the falls where the  water hits one’s back almost like a soothing balm.

For the fainthearted who do not wish to take the 108-step  journey, the leisure camp has a swimming pool where one can also enjoy the cool water from the falls.

The camp also has two cottages and picnic grounds near the pool.

The media group from Bacolod, who were brought on a tour of Kabankalan’s tourist destinations by Zayco, Bernadeth Ayala of the Kabankalan Tourism Office and City Engineer Rogelio Diaz, ended their visit to Balicaocao yesterday by planting trees that is part of Kabankalan’s campaign to propagate  endemic or native trees.

Diaz said their target is to plant endemic  trees on 600 hectares in three years and so far they have  covered 200, at 500 trees per hectare.

For Zayco, along with enjoying  God’s gifts comes the responsibility of protecting and restoring what had been lost to man’s greed.*CPG

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