Ziplines,Cable Cars To Be Constructed Near The Newly-Finished Agas-Agas Bridge

Feb.1,2010
Ziplines, Cable Cars To Be Constructed Near The Newly-Finished Agas-Agas Bridge
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The construction of the P1.024B Agas-Agas Bridge in brgy.Kahupian,Sogod town, of this province and the promotion of ecotourism by the provincial government has triggered Tourism Officer Nedgar Garvez to tap pioneering zipline builders from Camp Zabros,Mt. Apo Natural Park in Davao Del Sur to construct ziplines and cable cars at the new longest and tallest bridge in the country(to the exclusion of San Juanico Bridge that connects the huge islands of Leyte and Samar)measuring 350 linear meters in length and 75 meters in height
The bridge, whose name was derived at nearby mountain crack where landslides and waterfalls were frequent during rainy days(Agas-Agas), was the ultimate solution to the bad condition of the road below the mountain that became impassable by bus passengers whenever there were rains.
The demonstration of several extreme sports enthusiasts on ziplining and rappelling thru cable wires during the recent bridge opening to public traffic led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was the main urging force to pursue the idea into realization.
During the recent Provincial Development Council meeting held at Ruperto Kangleon Function House in brgy.Mambajao, this city, the Sacdalan Brothers from Camp Zabros, Mt.Apo, Davao del Sur composed of Romy and Edwin were the main guests.
Edwin Sacdalan said that the province has the advantage because it has the longest and the tallest bridge where zipline construction and bungee jumping activities are suitable for local and foreign tourists who loved the extreme sports.
Sacdalan said that although Mt.Apo Natural Park which is 4,000 feet above sea level is a tourist destination among local and foreign tourists, majority of them still look for some other activities that will prick their spirit of adventurism.
“That’s where the idea of constructing ziplines and cable wires came to my mind in 2005”, he said. “And we start constructing it in Mt. Apo Natural Park”.
He said they have also constructed ziplines in Camp Leo Oracion in South Cotabato and in Danao in Bohol.
He claimed that since the new extreme sports has started in 2005 and has become well-known in 2007 there were zero casualties.
He said the new sports have no age limit-children, teenagers and adults-as long as they have the courageous hearts and the enthusiasm to ride up on heights.
Edwin claimed that the construction of ziplines need millions of pesos, but investment can easily be recovered.
He cited Danao in Bohol which is 45 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City where ziplines were constructed. He implied that with a regular influx of tourists the investment was recovered in just 2 seasons, revealing that it has an income from P500,000 to P1M a month.
The zipline builder said that for bungee jumping, tower construction is no longer necessary in Agas-Agas, since its 75 meters height concrete pier would serve as the jumping point for the extreme sports enthusiasts.
He said that 4 to 5 activities can be conducted at the bridge that traversed between 2 sides of the mountains.
He further said that ziplining and rappelling that were booming nationwide have become attraction at Mt. Apo.Adding that it’s also an income-generating project that the provincial government of Southern Leyte can have its share of investment and revenues.
Moreover, SP Agustin Escaño, Jr., Chair Committee on Agriculture and Tourism, enjoined the Sacdalan brothers Romy and Edwin to submit the development plan and the estimated cost of constructing ziplines and cable cars.
Garvez, who accompanied the Sacdalan brothers to Agas-Agas Bridge to see it for themselves to conduct a feasibility study on the project, said he still has to ask permission from the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The aforesaid meeting was presided over by Governor Damian G. Mercado and attended by some municipal mayors and SP members, heads of line agencies, some representatives from LGUs and 3 personalities from the press.(Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)