Biliran has launched the "Climb Biliran" campaign program, aiming to establish the province as an Eastern Visayas mountaineering sanctuary.
According to Biliran provincial tourism officer Jun Oliva, the campaign was the two-year culmination of preparations made by the local government and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to market the province as a mountaineering destination.
“Being an island, our province offers a unique position. We will capitalize on our mountaineering potential. We may not compete with record heights or degrees of difficulty, but we offer a variety of enjoyable summit experiences ranging from easy to moderate and more challenging,” Oliva said in a report by the Philippine News Agency.
Attracting mountaineers around the country
At least 40 mountaineers from Albay, General Santos, Cebu, Bislig City, Bacolod, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, and Biliran attended the two-day invitational climb at the launch on June 14.
The climbers reached the peaks of Mt. Panamao, the Tres Marias Mountain Range, Mt. Suiro, and the Kapatagan Valley, the summer capital of Biliran.
Biliran has also hosted the Karera Habagat in 2004, the Catamaran Challenge in 2008, and the joint La Routa and Asian Racing World Series in 2023, building their reputation in the mountaineering community.
Upscaling locals
Training and refresher courses for mountaineering tour guides who are members of the Biliran Adventure Guides Organization (BAGO) were conducted as part of the preparation to fulfill a prerequisite to be certified as a climbing guide.
The group received training in mountain search and rescue to ensure they had the necessary tools to guarantee the security of guests.
Mountain guiding, outdoor first aid, and an introduction to emergency response protocols are all included in the course.
Even though drawing tourists is their primary objective, Climb Biliran is also a part of their campaign to preserve and maintain the ecosystem.
