BARBAZA, Antique – The Yapo waterfalls in Barangay Yapo here is a tourist attraction. But visitors find it difficult to reach.
Inaccessibility hinders the falls’ tourism potentials.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Antique thus requested the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for a P5-million financial assistance for the concreting of a road leading to the waterfalls.
Committee on Tourism chairman Noel Alamis sponsored the approved resolution urging for the road improvement.
Barangay Yapo is located, is a kilometer away from the poblacion or town center.
The waterfalls, with its clean and gushing cold water, attract visitors who love adventure.
“Barangay Yapo captain Edward Española Kalagtag said the average number of tourists who take a bath at the Yapo waterfalls is 1,000 monthly,” according to Alamis.
Last year, the local government of Barbaza started constructing a road leading there using local funds (P5 million) this was not enough.
“Such budget was only able to concretize 365 meters of the road,” said Alamis.
The additional funding of P5 million being requested from TIEZA is estimated to cover additional 365 meters, leaving around 270 meters of gravel road leading to the waterfalls.
“The concrete road to be funded by TIEZA will be up to the area just before Kaligtugan River,” Alamis said.
Tourists need to cross the river before reaching the waterfalls.
Alamis said the road project would not only benefit the 70 households of Barangay Yapo, but also the residents of barangays Integasan, Narirong and Tig-alaran as a concrete road would help speed up the transport of their produce to the town’s market. (PNA)
