By Ferdinand G. Patinio
MANILA, April 21 (PNA) — Aside from providing easy transportation of people and goods in the provincial capital of Bukidnon, the completion of P150 million access road project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also provides easy access to the province’s largest flower sanctuary for local and foreign tourists.
The project, which is under the Tourism Infrastructure Program, is an 8-kilometer access road leading to Rafflesia Yard, guaranteed to provide quality and safe travel of tourists with its carriageway’s 6.1 meters width and 0.23 meters concrete thickness.
The yard where the “rafflesia schadenbergiana’ also known as “bo-o” or “kolon busaw” to the Bogobo and Higaonon tribes of Bukidnon, the second biggest flower in the world, with diameter that can reach up to 80 centimeters.
DPWH-10 Regional Director Evelyn Barroso said the newly concreted road would allow Baungon locals to showcase their place’s biodiversity, simultaneously promoting awareness on the protection of rafflesia, which is also categorized as critically endangered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The sanctuary is located in Sitio Kalanganan, Barangay San Vicente, Baungon, the Rafflesia Yard, was declared by the DENR as a critical habitat of the largest flower in the Philippines.
“Local and international tourists who want to see one of the largest flowers in the world are invited to visit Bukidnon as we have improved the tourism road to Rafflesia Yard in the municipality of Baungon,” she said.
Aside from supporting the tourism industry of Baungon, the access road will make way to the smooth flow of people and goods to commercial and public places in Malaybalay City, thus, improving the lives of the people around the area. (PNA)