A new potential tourism area in Camalig town in Albay province is being planned to be developed by the Municipal Tourism and Cultural Heritage Office (MTCHO).

In an interview on Friday, Tim Florece, spokesperson of the local government unit (LGU) of Camalig, said with a gross area of 4,039.810 square meters and length of 633 meters, the only subterranean cave in the town has been accessed by the LGU for more than 13 years but tourists and locals have not yet been allowed entry considering various hazards like bad air, narrow chambers and the deep water.

The MTCHO conducted an initial area and risk assessment at the Calabidongan Cave in Barangay Calabidongan on Thursday.

“Personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) suggested the updating of the cave management plan to cover safe and efficient cave management, while the MTCHO eyes to formulate a tourism plan which includes an inventory of assets, area access, deployment of trained personnel, and environmental compliance,” Florece said.

He said the Calabidongan Cave was discovered by the locals years ago. With the cave’s high historical value, the municipal government opted to develop the site to promote its tourism competence which will redound to improved revenue and earning capabilities for residents.

The DENR and Camalig LGU are set to conduct a full exploration of the cave to determine its capacity to accommodate tourists with high prioritization for public safety and environmental conservation.

The cave is still off-limits to the general public until the local government establishes safe protocols for spelunking and other cave-related activities. (PNA)