Schedule Of BENECO Power Interruption For October 12 To October 16

Some parts of Baguio City and the nearby towns of La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba, Itogon, and Kibungan will be experiencing scheduled power interruptions from October 12 to October 16. Check out the schedule below to see if your area is going to be affected and on what dates the interruptions will occur.

October 12, Monday, 9 am to 5 pm - [Inselbeg-Lubas, La Trinidad], [Parts of Sumulong Street - Holy Ghost Proper, Baguio City]

October 13, Tuesday, 9 am to 5 pm - [Woodsgate Subdivision - Camp 7, Baguio City], [Kalinga Pelota - Camp 7, Baguio City], [Parapad Shenet Road - North Sanitary Camp, Baguio City], [Brookspoint near Brookspoint Elementary School - Baguio City], [Whole of Greenwater, parts of Military Cut-off, Nevada Square, Baguio City], [Sabdang Road and parts Poblacion - Sablan], [Richview Square Subdivision - Bakakeng Sur/Norte, Baguio City]

October 14, Wednesday, 9 am to 5 pm - [Sitio Bastian, Sitio Mangga, Sitio Torre - Camp 3, Tuba], [Sitio Tamocmoc, Sitio Depting, Labilab - Loacan, Itogon], [Baguio General Hospital, University of the Philippines, Upper Gov. Pack Road, Home Sweet Home CICM, Phil-Am, BGH Compound - Baguio City]

October 15, Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm - [Belong, Conocon, Dutaan, Baayan, Tuel, Batwag, Datakan, Lomon, Gadang, Sagubo, Pudong, Bolinsak, Taba-ao, Abiang and - Whole of Kibungan]

October 16, Friday, 9 am to 6 pm - [Cabanao, Capitol, Kesbeng, Kangas Road, Samoyao, Camp Dangwa, Alapang down to Balmuco Pumping Station, Samoyao, Peril Alno, Balluay, Bagong, Botot, Bayuga, Banengbeng, Bahong, Tomay, Triniville, BENECO-Warehouse, Sadag, Tality Payew, Koneg Alno, Part of Camp Dangwa, Botted Tawang]

La Presa Strawberries And Vegetables Being Sold At The Baguio City Public Market?

If you are to take a stroll along the booths that are selling fruits and vegetables at the Baguio City Public Market, you can get a grasp of the lively competition among the vendors. The battle to get the attention of customers plays out from early morning to the hour the shutters go down.

From offering their goods at discounted bundles to giving out free tastes, the vendors make use of various gimmicks to earn the good graces of their customers. A more recent gimmick involves using the name of a fictional place from a local television series in the hope of getting the attention of tourists.

Some vendors have resorted to using La Presa signs, tags, and labels on their goods. Sitio La Presa is the fictional setting of the ABS-CBN television series Forevermore. In reality, the place is Sitio Pungayan in the town of Tuba in Benguet. The popularity of the series has turned the place into an overnight tourist destination. During the holidays last year, thousands of tourists trooped to Pungayan causing traffic and commotion in the area. More of said tourists are expected to flock to the sitio when the Panagbenga Festival kicks in come February.

Strawberries at the Baguio City Public Market with a sign which implies that the berries are from La Presa.

However, some Baguio and Benguet residents are questioning the vendors' strategy of putting La Presa signs over the fruits and vegetables they are selling. It's a valid question because isn't the act the same as the all-too-common misleading strategy of selling imported oranges and grapes with labels like "Sagada oranges" and "Sagada grapes"? Why sell a bunch of grapes as "Sagada grapes" when these aren't even from Sagada?

If you've been to Sagada and you've seen the oranges being farmed there, they are very different from the plump, large and perfect-skinned "Sagada oranges" being sold at the Baguio market. Sometimes, said "Sagada oranges" can be seen being taken out from boxes with either Chinese or Japanese labels.

This practice at the Baguio public market begs the question, "Is it okay to allow the vendors to keep on with such practices?" Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

Baguio City's Panagbenga Flower Festival 2015 Schedule And Calendar Of Events

The 20th edition of the Panagbenga Flower Festival in Baguio City was formally launched at the Baguio City Hall on November 17, 2014. The theme for next year's festivities is "Across 20 Years of Blossoming Together". The theme was inspired by the expected collaboration between Baguio City and the neighboring Benguet towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay. The group is collectively and more popularly known by the acronym BLISTT (Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay).

 

With the participation of Baguio City's neighboring towns, organizers of the festival are promising a grander edition of the annual festival. The festivities will also be represented by a logo featuring a flower with six petals which represents the city of Baguio and the five Benguet towns that will be participating in the staging of the festival.

As always, the Panagbenga Festival will kick off on February 1 and will wrap up within the first week of March. You can view the partial calendar of events below. Organizers are still working on the final schedule of activities so this calendar is a work-in-progress. We will be updating it in the coming weeks and months. 

Photo by Zer Cabatuan via Flickr.

February 1
1) Opening Ceremony
2) Street Dancing Parade Competition - From the Panagbenga Park to Session Road, Harrison Road, and then to the Melvin Jones Football Grounds.
3) Opening Concert - Venue still to be announced.

February 1 to March 8
1) Baguio Blooms Exhibition and Exposition - At the Lake Drive within Burnham Park.

February 15
1) Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio
2) Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom
3) Panagbenga Kite-Flying Challenge
4) Variety Show
5) Fireworks Display at the Melvin Jones Football Grounds

February 19
1) Chinese Spring Festival

February 20 to 22
1) Philippine Military Academy Grand Alumni Homecoming

February 23 to 27
1) Floral Arrangement Competition and School-based Landscaping Competition

February 28
1) Grand Street Dancing Parade - Session Road, Harrison Road, Melvin Jones Football Grounds

March 1
1) Grand Float Parade - Session Road, Harrison Road, Melvin Jones Football Grounds

March 1 to 8
1) Session Road in Bloom

March 7
1) Pony Boys Day

March 8
1) Grand Fireworks Display

2 Dead Men Found Along Marcos Highway In Poyopoy, Tuba, Benguet

Two still unidentified men were found on a ravine along a stretch of Marcos Highway within the vicinity of Poyopoy in Tuba, Benguet on Wednesday morning (October 15). The two male cadavers were found by garbage collectors between 8 and 9 in the morning of said date.

Based on a post-mortem examination conducted by Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the Baguio City Police, the cause of death for one of the victims is either because of a punctured wound on his head or asphyxia caused by strangulation. The cause of death for the other victim is also believed to be asphyxia because of strangulation.

The two men have heights of between 5'1'' and 5'3". They are believed to have been thrown at the ravine a day before they were found by garbage collectors.

The bodies of the two men were brought to the La Paz Funeraria. The Baguio City police is also calling on people who have missing relatives to go to La Paz Funeraria, the Baguio City Police Office, or to the Tuba Municipal Police Station for possible identification.

The stretch of Marcos Highway along Tuba is infamously known for a dumping ground for dead bodies. Prior to the men found this Wednesday, a dead man was also found there last March with his ankles tied and his eyes covered with masking tape.

Photo by Glory Balegan (Bombo Radyo).

Post by Glory C. Balegan.

[Source: Glory Balegan via Facebook.]

Benguet's Public Prosecutors Not Up To Par With What's Expected From Them?

[Opinion] - In her most recent piece for The Manila Times, Ma. Isabel Ongpin didn't mince words in asserting that public lawyers who act for government to punish lawbreakers are often lacking in expertise and ethical behavior. She came up with this statement in the context of the legal process surrounding the cases filed against Baguio City Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr. It can be recalled that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Baguio Water District have filed charges against the solon and three construction firms in their alleged involvement in the cutting of trees and excavation of the earth in a watershed at Mt. Kabuyao, Tuba.

The charges were filed during the first week of June but on the last week of July, the Benguet Prosecutors Office inhibited themselves from the cases. Their reasons for the inhibition raised more questions than answers. Why did it take them so long to distance themselves given the "simplicity" of their reasons for inhibition? It took one of them more than a month to realize that his wife is related to one of the contractors? The extended time it took them to come up with this excuse notwithstanding, it's still "flimsy" as Ongpin put it.

The stalling, the lies, the unwarranted inhibitions, and the incompetency of some government officials have turned the Mount Santo Tomas issue into an embarrassing circus. Meanwhile, the residents of Baguio City and Tuba continue to receive the bad end of the stick. What with the polluted water springs and looming further damage because of the opened wounds on the slopes of Mt. Kabuyao.

Screengrab of Ongpin's article.

A Couple Of Updates On The Mount Kabuyao Case

It's been over two months since the Mount Kabuyao case came unto our consciousness. It's sad to say however that the case at this point seems to be going nowhere. Cases have been filed against Baguio City Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr. who was tagged as the perpetrator behind the environmental destruction there but the solon denies any involvement in the cutting of trees nor in the road project at the forest reserve.

So what's new? We have two updates for you.

One, the Baguio Water District (BWD) will be pursuing the complaints they filed against Congressman Aliping and three construction companies (RUA Construction, Goldrich Construction, and BLC Construction & Aggregates). This is great news. BWD should be adamant in their stand in the issue. Damage has been done to the forest reserve. Someone held the chainsaws. Someone drove the bulldozers. Someone lighted the trees on fire. That someone (whoever he is) has to pay for what he's done.

I have a question with regards to this development in the case. I can recall that Aliping has absolved the three construction companies any involvement as he said that he merely borrowed their excavation equipments. I'm not that familiar with the workings of the law so I'm not sure how this would affect the complaints that were filed way before Aliping absolved the construction companies.

And two, the officer in charge of the Benguet Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) said that Aliping's claim of land inside the Mount Santo Tomas forest reserve is illegal. Octavio Cuanso stated that "Forest reserves are not open to private ownership. Portions of it cannot be converted into private property." I'm sure this is going to muddle the case even more. With these recent developments in the case, the road to justice grows even longer.

Congressman Aliping's Chief Of Staff Says The Solon Was Not Involved In Logging Activity

In a letter written to the Manila Standard Today, Lito Pangilinan (Baguio City Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr.'s chief of staff) defended the solon from allegations that he was involved in logging activities in Cabuyao/Sto. Tomas. Pangilinan particularly pointed out two articles published by the newspaper during the first week of July as "libelous". The word "libelous" was mentioned in said letter three times.

Reading the letter, the threatening stance is too obvious. Dexter See, the Manila Standard Today correspondent has been among those who have been more ardent in covering the Mt. Sto. Tomas issue. In short, he's been at the forefront of informing the public regarding developments in the Sto. Tomas tragedy. This letter is just another of Aliping's efforts to muscle his way out of the mess he got himself into.

To be fair to Pangilinan, See overstepped in the first paragraph of his July 2 article titled Watershed Logging Defended. The paragraph in question stated "A lawmaker facing various charges for destruction of a huge portion of a protected forest broke a self-imposed silence on Tuesday and said he cut down 1,000 trees and bulldozed the earth to put up an “eco-park” to help sustain the biodiversity of the Mount Sto. Tomas watershed." This created the impression that the Congressman directly said that he cut trees. Aliping never admitted cutting trees. However, most of the evidence says that he did cut trees. Just because Aliping did not admit cutting trees does not mean he did not do it. Non-admission does not equate to innocence.

If Pangilinan's claims that Aliping did not cut trees or engage in logging, then what were the fallen timber that we saw scattered all over the area in Cabuyao/Sto. Tomas when we went there just a few days ago to plant trees? We took photos. Here's just a few of them. What are these, if not the victims of logging? If Aliping wants to stop people from talking about Cabuyao/Sto. Tomas, then he should stop playing around and start addressing the issue directly and clearly. Quit beating around the bush. If he did not do these as he claims, then who did? The vegetable farmers? The small scale miners? It's nearing two months already when the issue first broke out. If Aliping is more enthusiastic in addressing the issue instead of stalling it, fixing this mess would be quicker.

Seeing The Damage Done In Cabuyao/Sto. Tomas Is Shocking And That's Putting It Mildly

Yesterday, July 15, we participated in the tree planting activity at the destroyed forest in Cabuyao/Sto. Tomas. The activity which was organized by JP Alipio of the Cordillera Conservation Trust aims to reforest the road. That is to plant trees on the scarred earth with the hope of seeing it return to its original state. If I remember it right, over a thousand pine tree and coffee seedlings were planted that day.

Seeing the damage done in the forest is shocking to say the least. Aliping said that he planned on building an eco park in the area, a nature and adventure site. Suffice it to say that Aliping's idea of an eco park seems to be the complete opposite of what most of us know.

When a politician gets implicated in something tragic wherein he/she has grossly betrayed public trust, it is always wise to keep an open mind and give him/her the benefit of the doubt. When the destruction in Cabuyao/Sto. Tomas first came to light and no other than Baguio City Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr. was tagged as the culprit, I gave the solon the benefit of the doubt. Surely, the top leader of this parts of the land would not be that stupid to cut a swath of destruction through a protected forest without the necessary permits. Anyone accused of a crime deserves the chance to provide an explanation. Aliping deserved the chance to explain himself.

But what did he do? He lied by telling a television station that the project was by his brother Brian Aliping whom he said resides in the U.S. only to admit later on that he indeed is behind the project. That's a complete turnaround from his initial stance. Even if it is true that the project is indeed by Brian, shouldn't it be Nicasio Jr.'s responsibility to his constituents in Baguio City that he prevents Brian in proceeding with the road project? Is he implying that he wouldn't wag a finger even if the whole of Cabuyao mountain goes down because the person doing the destruction is his brother? 

Allow us to remind the reader that springs have been polluted so Baguio City and Tuba's water sources have been affected. Most reports say that the number of trees cut and burned were about 750. After seeing the area destroyed, it has to be much more than that. Additionally, as you read this article, some of the trees there continue to die. They are doomed. With their roots exposed, there is very little chance of them ever getting the right sustenance to survive. There are also several cracks in the constructed road. These are recipes for massive erosions. With the rainy season in full swing, it wouldn't be surprising to hear about more trees dying there because of erosions.

Another thing, it's worth mentioning over and over again that during his campaign in 2013 for the Congressional post, Aliping promised a "pagbabagong rumerespeto sa kalikasan at kapaligiran". He even made a campaign video about his love of the environment. Also, in 2012 when he was a Baguio City councilor, Aliping promised to the municipality of Tuba in Benguet that he won't cut trees when he builds what he called a nature and adventure site in Cabuyao/Sto. Tomas. Can you see the pattern here? Aliping promises something but does the complete opposite. It's scary.

Lately, I've received a few emails (through this blog) that accused us of only writing negative things about the Congressman. The main point of these letter-senders is that Aliping has done a lot of good things for Baguio City that it's not right for us to keep on beating him with the Sto. Tomas tragedy. I just wish to make it clear to these letter-senders that Aliping's good works is not the issue here. The issue here is his hand in the destruction in Cabuyao/Sto. Tomas. His positive accomplishments are separate from his follies. Think of it this way: if a man rescued a person and killed another, the good act does not free the man from paying for the implications of the bad act.

We invite you, the reader of this article, to look closely at the photos below. Setting aside the fact that Aliping promised not to cut trees, is this the way to build an eco park? All these photos were taken just yesterday. You are the reader. You be the judge. #reforesttheroad

Note 1: All of the people in these photos were there yesterday to plant trees in the area. For more photos of the tree-planting activity, click here.

Note 2: You are free to copy and use these photos (including the the ones contained in the link above) with just one condition. And that is you use them responsibly and that you use them in something relevant/related to the issue.

Back In 2012, Aliping Promised That He Will Preserve All The Trees When He Develops His Nature And Adventure Site

So, apparently Baguio City Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr.'s project in Mt. Sto. Tomas dates back to 2012 when Aliping (then a Baguio City councilor) appeared in front of the Tuba municipal council and outlined his project which he referred to as a nature and adventure site. During the session, Aliping said "My plan there is first, to develop a nature and adventure site. Primarily, we have to preserve all the trees that are in that area." This is just a portion of the minutes of said council session that were released to the media. You can read additional details about what transpired during this session here (Inquirer) and here (Midland Courier).

I just want to make a quick detour here regarding the minutes of the meeting. Is there a way for a small blogger such as myself to acquire a copy of said "minutes"? The two reports I linked to above directly mentioned that the "minutes" were released to the media. So if there's a media person or anyone knowledgeable about my query who can tell me how I should go about in procuring a copy of said "minutes", I would be very grateful.

Anyway, this development in the Mt. Sto. Tomas issue raises a HUGE question. If the Tuba municipal council has known about this project for over two years then why did we arrive at such a tragic ending? Trees were cut and the earth excavated within a forest reserve. And these were done without the necessary permits, mind you.

A portion of the road project in Sto. Tomas. Photo by the Cordillera Conservation Trust

From these, we can come up with a few conclusions. One, the Tuba council watched the trees get cut without doing anything. Two, the Tuba council did try to do something but they were rather too late. Three, the Tuba council watched but didn't do anything because they were expecting somebody else (DENR, EMB) to stop the cutting. Pick your poison. But be informed that whichever you pick, it leaks of incompetence on the part of the Tuba council. They simply didn't flex their muscles enough.

Aliping Finally Breaks His Silence About The Mt. Sto. Tomas Issue

After weeks of dodging queries thrown his way with regards to the Mt. Sto. Tomas issue, Baguio City Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr. finally broke his silence at a recent press conference. However, his statements raised more questions than answers. It's good that the solon is finally talking because the people of Baguio City and Tuba, Benguet deserve to be updated on the issue.

At the recent press conference, Aliping admitted that he has a project in Kabuyao, Sto. Tomas, Tuba, Benguet. At the same time, Aliping claimed that his project didn't cause the cutting of trees and contamination of springs there. What an anti-clincher! So if Aliping did not cut the trees and bulldoze the earth, who did? The Congressman did not directly accuse any party but he mentioned the "presence of illegal private miners" and of a "massive road improvement and widening" in the area.

Aliping did not elaborate further, preferring to issue a canned statement, saying that "In due time, because of the pendency of the case, I will also make my statements at the proper time at the proper forum."

The solon admitted that he has a project in the area but he had it plugged after getting a stoppage order from the Department of Natural Resources (DENR). As to the nature of the project, Aliping says that "It's an eco-tourism park." 

This case is starting to look really weird. Three cases had already been filed against Aliping by DENR and the Baguio Water District (BWD). Did these offices get sloppy and rushed their cases? And now, Aliping is trying to wash his hands clean by claiming that his project was not responsible for the cutting of trees and pollution of water springs.

Right now, it's very difficult to believe that Aliping has no hand in the damage done to Sto. Tomas. Most of the evidence points to him as the culprit. Three cases had been filed against him. Looking at the the extent of the damage done, it's hard to think that these had been caused by mere small miners.

And this excuse of an eco-park is insulting. The area is a watershed. It's a forest reserve. It's a protected area. So it's already an eco-park.

Hundreds of trees were burned and cut. The earth was excavated and opened up. These did not happen by themselves. Somebody lit the fires. Somebody drove the bulldozers. Somebody wielded the chainsaws. Who is this somebody? Is he congressman Aliping? Is he a private miner? Is he a vegetable farmer? Who is he?

Just An Old Video Of Congressman Aliping Saying He's Against The Cutting Of Trees

A couple of years ago, the biggest talk of the town in Baguio City was SM's cutting and earthballing of trees within its property in Luneta Hill. Fortunately, the efforts of concerned citizens and various groups were able to successfully prevent the further cutting of the trees.

Today, Baguio City has found itself in the middle of yet another environmental case which is much, much worse than its predecessor. This time, however, the one implicated in causing the destruction is not a private entity like SM. This time, it's no other than the city's top official, Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr. himself. The solon is allegedly behind the cutting of trees, burning of trees, and destructive earth excavations in Mt. Sto. Tomas in Tuba, Benguet. Hundreds of trees are now dead. Three springs and a dam that serve as water sources for Baguio City and Tuba were damaged. And the earth has been exposed to soil erosion which can cause further damage to the watershed and forest reserve.

The irony in this is the fact that a few years back when the SM issue was brewing, Aliping (who was then a Baguio City councilor) was against the cutting and earthballing of trees in Luneta Hill. In the video below, Aliping personally claims that he's "against the cutting of trees". So what happened to Aliping's former stance? Did he change his mind? Is he now a pro instead of an anti? One thing is for sure, Aliping promised during his campaign last year that he will protect and preserve the environment. In his own words, he promised "pagbabagong rumerespeto sa kalikasan at kapaligiran". But what's been done in Mt. Sto. Tomas is the complete opposite of respect.

In the instance that you can't see the video above, here's a transcript: "To our friends who are opposing the cutting of trees at the Luneta Hill as an expansion. Personally, I am against the cutting of trees. Secondly, this rally that took place a while back is actually the expression of the people's sentiments against the cutting and earthballing of trees in that site. 

Now it would be unfair for the Sm management to just immediately earthball in as much as the council recommended, the committee recommended the earthballing to be undertaken by a monitoring group so we have first to compose the monitoring group. And more importantly, there is now the temporary environmental protection order issued by the court so that has to be respected. And as far as I'm concerned, personally, I am against the cutting of trees."

So, there you go.

Official Records Say Congressman Aliping Doesn't Own Properties In Mt. Sto. Tomas

Well, this is getting more and more interesting. According to the municipality of Tuba's official records, Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr. does not own any property in the Mt. Sto. Tomas watershed and forest reserve. Carmelita Samonte, an employee at the municipal assessor's office stated that Tuba's treasury and real property records don't indicate that Aliping has any property there.

Instead, the 5-hectare area where the road project was conducted was registered as land claims of Felimon Coyupan and Rosalie Leistner. Feling de Leon, Coyupan's daughter has stated that Aliping bought his father's property. Lesitner's property was also allegedly bought by the solon.

This development muddles the case even more. And more lies by Aliping being exposed. It can be recalled that weeks ago, Aliping mentioned on TV Patrol Northern Luzon that the road project in Mt Sto. Tomas was by his brother currently residing in the United States. However, several media reports stated that the Congressman himself owns the property in Sto. Tomas. And that he has a resort being developed there.

Which is which? What is really the truth? Making matters worse is Aliping's continued silence on the issue. He even failed to attend two technical conferences wherein decent discussions should've been held between him and the concerned agencies. However, the fact remains that hundreds of trees have been either cut or burned. The road project cut through mountain slopes opening them up for possible erosions. And sources of water for communities in Baguio City and Tube were either damaged or polluted. In fact, the Baguio Water District said that two of the springs that were damaged can no longer be restored to their original state because they've been permanently damaged.

A portion of the road project in Sto. Tomas. Photo by the Cordillera Conservation Trust

Benguet Police Director Rodolfo Azurin Admits Lack Of Coordination With The DENR With Regards To Mt. Sto. Tomas Issue

At the Benguet provincial board last Monday (June 23), the province's police director Rodolfo Azurin admitted that there's lack of coordination between the police and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Azurin made the admittance after board member Jack Dulnuan threw him questions as to why the illegal activities in Mt. Sto. Tomas were able to damage a lot of trees and mountain slopes before being halted.

It's a valid question and kudos to Azurin for manning up and accepting where his camp went awry. He directly admitted that his office weren't able to efficiently coordinate with the DENR. Even better, he is providing a solution to the problem by suggesting that a police sub-station will be installed in the Mt. Sto. Tomas area. Now if only the people tagged with the damage done in the forest reserve do the same and man up like Azurin. The folks implicated remain mum and as long as they remain mum, cleanup of the damaged water sources will stay in limbo.

A portion of the road project in Mt. Sto. Tomas. Photo: Cordi Eco-Center Pine Tree

Here's Your Chance To Climb Mt. Santo Tomas And See The Beautiful Sceneries Around It

The Kabuyao Tour Guides and Porters Association (KTGPA) has organized a trek up Mt. Santo Tomas dubbed Celebrating Love With Nature. Set for February 28 and March 1, the trek will give participants the chance to experience mountain climbing as well as enjoy the scenic views from atop Mt. Santo Tomas. These include views of the South China Sea, Mt. Pulag, Baguio City, parts of La Union, and Mt. Ugo in Itogon. Also in the itinerary of the trek is a campfire and cultural presentation in the evening of February 28.

Registration fee for the trek is Php1,000. This is inclusive of snacks, meals, certificate, T-shirt, transportation, tour guide fees and miscellaneous fees like environmental and camping fees. If you want to join the event, you can register at any of the following registration venues:
1. Tuba municipal and barangay tourism council offices
2. Benguet provincial tourism office
3. Department of Tourism Cordillera office

Assembly area will be at the Tuba municipal grounds. Participants should be there by 1 P.M.

The KTGPA has organized the trek in partnership with the municipal government of Tuba, the provincial government of Benguet, and the Department of Tourism Cordillera. For more information, you may contact Daisy Gabaen, the KTGPA president at 09107846498.

Photo by karoluscamilius on flickr

Source: Philippine Information Agency