Saturday, April 27, 2024

Tag: The Department of Tourism

DOT-Northern Mindanao gives inaccurate details about mountain ranges in Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

April 3, 2024 MindaNews fact-checked the claim of the Department of Tourism – Northern Mindanao (DOT – Northern Mindanao) about facts involving the mountain ranges in Bukidnon province. Some details are inaccurate, hence misleading

In a post on its Facebook page last February 22 titled “5 FACTS ABOUT BUKIDNON,” the DOT-Northern Mindanao said:

“The name ‘Bukidnon’ is derived from the Visayan term ‘bukid,’ which means mountain. True to its name, the province is characterized by extensive mountain ranges, including Mount Kitanglad, Mt. Dulang-dulang and Mt. Kalatungan, which are some of the highest peaks of the country.” (emphasis supplied)

Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Dulang-dulang are not two different mountain ranges.

They are among the peaks belonging to the same mountain range, the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, legislated as a protected area on November 9, 2000.

Mt. Dulang-dulang (2,938 meters above sea level) is the second-highest peak in the Philippines. On the other hand, Mt. Kitanglad (2,899masl) is the country’s fourth highest peak, and like Mt. Dulang-dulang, is one of the popular trekking destinations in Bukidnon.

The DOT-Northern Mindanao post further said that Mt. Kitanglad “sits between Malaybalay City and the municipalities of Lantapan, Impasugong, Sumilao, and Libona.”

The agency’s list of areas encompassed by the mountain range is incomplete. Mt. Kitanglad Range straddles Malaybalay City and the towns of Lantapan, Talakag, Baungon, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, and Impasugong. These eight areas share boundaries on the summit of Mt. Kitanglad. (Source: Protected Area Management Plan of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, 2018-2022, Page 6. Note: No online link, e-copy only)

The two other mountain ranges in Bukidnon are Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park, where Mt. Kalatungan is located, and Pantaron Range (also called Pantadon).

Kalatungan Range encompasses Valencia City and the towns of Talakag, Pangantucan, and Maramag.

Pantaron Range straddles Bukidnon and the neighboring provinces of Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Davao del Sur.

As with all our other reports, MindaNews welcomes leads or suggestions from the public to potential fact-check stories. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno / MindaNews)

DOT inaugurates P7-M rest area in Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon – The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) turned over a PHP7-million Tourist Rest Area (TRA) last August 04, 2023

TIEZA chief operations officer Mark Lapid said the project is the first to be completed in Mindanao.

As the tourism infrastructure arm of the government, TIEZA is in charge of funding and construction of such undertakings. At the same time, DOT serves as the overall evaluator of the project as its primary concept originator.

With the project’s turnover, Lapid said the local government is tasked with the TRA’s daily operation and maintenance.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, who graced the event, noted that there are 15 ongoing TRA projects in the country.

“Road Infrastructure projects are also vital for tourism development in the country, and (we) thank President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for having roads and bridges as among the vital programs of this administration under his Build Better More program,” Frasco said.

Last year, Frasco led the opening of 10 TRAs across the country.

Meanwhile, Governor Rogelio Neil Roque underscored the significance of the structure to the province’s tourism industry, which he said is known for food, religion, and culture.

“Bukidnon is the home of the second highest peak in the country, which is Mount Dulang-dulang, and half of the highest mountain peaks in the country are found in the province,” he said.

Mayor Rogelio Quiño said the town has witnessed tourism-related investments pouring into the locality, luring at least 6,000 tourists daily.

During the launch, the DOT also distributed kits to Bukidnon tour guides at the Manolo Fortich gymnasium, while community-based tourism organizations also benefited from livelihood training assistance from the agency. (Ercel Maanding/PNA)