San Quintin forest park lures tourists
Posted on February 10, 2003 - Filed Under News |
SAN QUINTIN– A new tourism site in northern Philippines is drawing crowds from all walks of life, offering the best in river and mountain retreat camping.
Called Mayor Romulo Antolin Camp and Forest Park, the tourism facility was opened during the five-day boy scouts jamborette from Jan. 29-Feb. 1.
Built on a 50-hectare site along the Dipalo river in barangay Nangapugan, the campsite features 26 permanent native cottages, each unit equipped with tiled bathroom, kitchen, spacious receiving room, and one bedrooom.
All roofed with galvanized sheets, most of the cottages built with in mixed concrete-bamboo materials, have an airy sala with bamboo railings overlooking the majestic Caraballo mountains and the waters of the Dipalo river.
Water facility is superb as a huge tank with automatic, electricity-powered pump has been built nearby, assuring a 24-hour supply.
Except for one, al the cottages are fenced (mostly with bamboo in rustic motif while some with hogwires made elegant and sturdy by steel bars and cement posts). Every cottage is equipped with electric lights and adorned with ornamental plants, mostly colorful bougainvillas.
In front of the row of cottages along the hillside is a wide open space where most of the jamborette activities featuring various skills in boy scouting were held. At night, the area is bright as day with big street lamps dotting the main avenue from the entrance to the hillcliff, turning the whole campsite into a new modern settlement, complete with the amenities of urban living.
All the cottages were built on "bayanihan" and financed from development funds of each of the town's 21 barangays. The five other cottages were built by the Department of Education (DepEd), DENR, Rural health Unit, San Quintin Water District and National Irrigation Administration.
The housing facilities, however, will be turned over to the municipal government which will rent these out to tourists at convenient rates starting these summer months. Revenues will be equally shared by each of the barangays at uniform schedules to be settled in a public hearing.
Mayor Antolin said the open space will be transformed into a mini-forest park with various tree species, including fruit-bearing ones to bolster the local government's economic enterprise program.
Along both sides of the main avenue is a relay of mahogany, narra, acacia and mango trees which, when fully grown, will be a display of refreshing flora and fauna.
Comments
Leave a Reply
