Misamis Oriental mountain ranges off limits to tourists

From the Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Mar 3): Misamis Oriental mountain ranges off limits to tourists

AN OFFICIAL of the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental said the province is closely coordinating with the local government units of towns considered high-risk due to the on-going military operations.

The Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) on Wednesday, March 1, issued travel advisory for trekkers and other outdoor sports enthusiasts to avoid travel to Claveria town and Gingoog City in light of renewed fighting between the military and the New People's Army (NPA).

 PTO head Yvonne Waga said local and foreign tourists must temporarily refrain from visiting Mt. Sumagaya and Mt. Lumot in Claveria and Mt. Balatukan in Gingoog City.

Waga advised tourists to wait until the suspension is lifted. However, tourist destinations in the coastal areas of the province remain safe, she said.

Waga said tourists can also visit the waterfalls in Salay town during daytime but advised them to take extra precautions. The towns of Salay, Claveria and Gingoog City are areas with known NPA presence.

"So it's better to stay away from these areas momentarily. We'll just pray that soonest possible time, the military combat operations will be over," Waga said.

Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division, likewise urged tourists not to venture to the mountain ranges of the province. "It is better to be safe than sorry. Di natin alam ang current engagement area so we cannot advise them (tourists) na bumalik kaya ipagpaliban po muna ang pag-akyat sa bundok (we cannot identify the areas of engagement so it is better to refrain from trekking into the mountains)," Martinez said.

Martinez said tourists can go back once the military declares the areas cleared of the threat group.

 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2017/03/03/misamis-oriental-mountain-ranges-limits-tourists-528886