CATBALOGAN CITY — Recently, the Samar Mountaineering and Outdoor Club, Inc. (SAMOC) set off on an exhilarating day-long mountain trekking adventure through Catbalogan City’s rainforests.
Led by President Ricky Bautista, the club’s expedition included members Liezl Bautista, Eric Toleran, Brylle General, Michael Salingsing, Victor Pol Llana, and Michael Labalan. Their journey covered a challenging 28.6 kilometers of mixed urban, jungle, and forest trekking.
Starting from the Shell Gas Station at Sto. Niño, the trek wound through Brgy. San Andres, continued into Brgy. Cawayan, and then ventured uphill and downhill towards Brgy. Parina in Jiabong town. Amidst the lush rainforest, the group observed the area’s rich fauna and witnessed local farmers engaged in the traditional livelihood of harvesting copra and Anahaw.
After a well-deserved lunch break at the Jiabong Upland Development Association (JUDA) natural pool in Parina, the trek resumed, reaching Kilometer 16 in Jiabong before finally concluding back at the starting point, the Shell Gas Station at Diversion Road, Catbalogan.
The trek served dual purposes: to condition the club members’ muscles and stamina for their upcoming expedition to scale Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, scheduled for February 20-22, 2024, and to scout and develop an adventure trail for future tourism initiatives in Catbalogan City.
SAMOC’s initiative aligns with broader tourism goals aimed at enhancing Catbalogan City’s offerings. The city boasts numerous pristine caves, waterfalls, and trekking trails, yet these natural wonders remain largely untapped due to insufficient promotion and infrastructure.
With SAMOC’s SEC registration and optimism about the city’s tourism potential, the club believes that Catbalogan City’s tourism industry could experience significant growth if the local government allocates resources to discover, develop, and promote these attractions.
Among the natural wonders awaiting promotion and development are the Bangon Waterfalls and the Central Cave in Catbalogan City, which, while existing, have yet to be fully developed or promoted for public access.
As SAMOC continues its efforts to promote adventure tourism in Catbalogan City, the club plans to embark on another trek on February 3, as their final preparation before the challenging Mt. Apo expedition in Davao City, Mindanao.
