MALAYBALAY CITY(MindaNews/7 July) —The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bukidnon on Wednesday passed a resolution declaring the town of Maramag, which is home to five spring-based resorts, as the province’s “eco-resort capital” in line with the local government unit’s tourism and environment thrusts.
The town, which is near the foot of Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park and other watershed areas that are tributaries to the Pulangi River, is home to 150 springs. Maramag is a first class municipality in the crossroads of the Bukidnon-Davao, Bukidnon-Cotabato and Bukidnon-Lanao roads. It has a population of 85,000.
The resolution, jointly sponsored by all board members, cited the abundance of springs in declaring Maramag as Bukidnon’s “eco-resort capital.”
The town has been celebrating its Kahalawan Te Sebseb Festival or the Festival of Springs every June 30.
It is described as a spring festival “where the legends of the place are expressed through street dancing and tableau competition.”
The Department of Tourism has endorsed the celebration of the festival in the last seven years, the resolution said.
The five spring resorts operating in the town are Crystal Spring, Edlimar Farm and Spring Resort, MGM Resort, RR Family Spring Resort, and Waig Crystal Spring Resort.
The resolution said the LGU of Maramag has “constantly guided” the resorts to be ecology and environment-friendly, in keeping with it’s “pro-environment commitment and tourism advocacy.”
Majority floor leader Nemesio Beltran, Jr., the resolution’s main proponent, told Mindanews that Maramag Mayor Alicia Resus also plans to develop the Mt. Musuan peak, which is near the Central Mindanao University, as a regulated tourism destination. (Walter I.Balane/MindaNews)
