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Outdoors Club Federation of Davao Oriental Activity Report

Activity        :   Philippine Eagle Trek at Barangays Cabuaya and Luban
Date        :   May 22 – 23, 2009
Submitted to    :   Mati Tourism Office
Report by    :   Roy G. Ponce and Rean G. Daanoy
Photos        :   Roy G. Ponce

Objectives    :

1.     Formulation and simulation of final itinerary for Media Tour component of the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary – Mati Information and Education (IEC) campaign 2009
a.    Tour stops
b.    PAX load
c.    Protocols
d.    Production of Tour Handouts
e.    Production of IEC Outline/Schedule
2.    Consultation with local officials on the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary Management Plan.
3.    Initial preparation of the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary – Mati Management Council Meeting in Barangay Cabuaya on June 2009.


ACTIVITY OUTPUT

This report covers Objective 1 as the relevant objective for Outdoors Club Federation participation in this Philippine Eagle Trek organized by Mati Tourism Office last May 22-23, 2009.  Objectives 2 and 3 are taken care of by the team from LGU-Mati.

Observations on travel time, possible tour stops and tourist activities are noted and followed by some recommendations.

Travel Time and Route
    The Philippine Eagle Trek was spearheaded by the Local Government of Mati through the Tourism Office led by Mr. Richard L. Villacorte and Mr. Dashiel E. Indelible, Jr. last May 22 – 23, 2009 at Barangays Cabuaya and Luban.  The team was also joined by the Outdoors Club Federation of Davao Oriental representatives: Mr. Rean G. Daanoy, Culture and Arts Officer of the Provincial Tourism Office and Mr. Roy G. Ponce of DOSCST.
    There are two possible tourist routes to Barangay Cabuaya and Luban from Mati proper, one by way of San Isidro-Governor Generoso and the other by boat directly from Mati Port to Cabuaya.  A third route is possible for a long trail hike by way of Macambol – Cabuaya coastal stretch.  The team chose the San Isidro – Governor Generoso route with an estimated travel time of 2 hours from Manikling, San Isidro to Barangay Cabuaya, passing by Barangay Luban at about 30-minute drive to Cabuaya.  Local reports said that on a fair weather travel time by boat from Mati Port is estimated at one hour and a half.

Cabuaya and the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary
    The team arrived at Barangay Cabuaya at around 11 o’clock in the morning and left for the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary trek immediately after lunch. 
Barangay Cabuaya can offer at least three tourist activities: (1) trek to Philippine Eagle Sanctuary observation post; (2) Eagle watching; and (3) swimming and beach activities. 
The trek to the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary observation post is an hour’s hike of gradual ascent to Cabuaya mountain range.  The trail grade is easy to average with several shallow river crossings with the last 0 minutes of gradual ascent.  Water source is abundant in the area and the hike scenery is a view of the Cabuaya forest, still threatened by agricultural activities as observed despite its protected area status. 
Philippine Eagle watching depends on the breeding season, daytime and weather patterns.  The team was not able to spot the Philippine Eagle possibly because their trek was done early in the afternoon.  Bird activities usually peak in the morning.  Another possible reason is that the Philippine Eagle juvenile is now exploring new hunting grounds and eagle parents at this stage do not stay at the nest.  This means that best time for eagle watching is early morning hours and at a certain breeding stage of egg laying and chick rearing.  This activity needs to be highly regulated by the PEF and suggests a person load of not more than 15 persons per visit to the observation post. 
    Cabuaya beach offers unpolluted and pristine waters.  The locals can top the offer of beach and swimming activities with seafood specialties.
    Value added activities can be done such as home stay packages with local food, horseback riding to eagle observation post, local experience of lobster and crab hunting and hike to nearby waterfalls.




Luban and the Bat Sanctuary
    Barangay Luban can offer the following activities: (1) Bat watching; (2)  Boating/Kayaking; (3) Island tour and ridge hiking; (4) Snorkeling and Diving; and (5) Regulated fly fishing and Swimming.
    The team checked on Luban Island twice, one at dusk to view the evening departure of the bats initially identified as white-crowned flying fox and in the morning to observe their roosting at the forest trees of the island.  As long as the bats will stay in the island, any visiting tourist will not miss observing this spectacular wild life view.  The barangays officials who joined the visit were challenged on the protection and conservation of these bats.
    The Luban lagoon is a very good vantage point for bat watching while on board a banca or kayak.  In this way, the bats are not disturbed in their roosting habitat.  Aside from boating and bat watching, one can enjoy the clear waters and observe the corals and marine life with or without snorkel.  Regulated hobby fishing can be done along with picnics and swimming activities in the sandy part of the island.
    One cultural thing to watch out in Luban is the All Souls Day (November 1 – 2) festival where a portion of the island is devoted to the Barangay Cemetery, it has yet to be established as to the age of the cemetery but one can imagine boats and ferries going to the island for visiting family and relatives of the ones buried there.  This situation carries an issue of preserving the island as part of the barangays cultural and natural heritage.  However, as a cemetery the locals have to determine its carrying capacity considering its natural and tourism value.  The local officials said that they have addressed the minor agricultural activity observed in the island.
    Barangay Luban also celebrate ‘Lip-lipan Festival’ on April as it is the season for this commercial fish catch.  The Barangay can also offer home stay activities, seafood and treks to their nearby waterfalls.


Recommendations for tour stops, tourist load and protocols

The advantage of Barangays Cabuaya and Luban is that any tourist activity can be regulated and monitored by the local people since there are only two points of entry, one from Governor Generoso and one by sea from Mati.  The following are recommended:

• The feasible tourist activities are guided and regulated tour packages. This is consideration of the sensitive natural habitat of the remaining wildlife in the area such as the Philippine Eagle, bats, corals and marine life;
• The Barangays along with Mati Tourism Office can start establishing guidelines for tourist home stay packages which include food and accommodation and guided tours;
• A Cabuaya-Luban Tour Package may include: horseback riding or hike to Philippine Eagle Sanctuary observation Post; bat watching, Luban Island Trek, Swimming and leisure activities at Luban Lagoon;
• Person load for Philippine eagle observation post shall not exceed 15 persons while beach and island activities may carry as many as 50 persons.
• Establish trail for ridge hike at Luban Island along with safety regulations;
• Establish the Mati Port – Cabuaya sea route;
• Cabuaya and Luban are also ideal for regulated outdoors and camping activities such as river treks to waterfalls and coastal hikes;
• Establish Macambol-Cabuaya coastal trail for trekkers and campers; and
• Develop a packaging for local seafood and cuisine.