Feature: Uncovering North Samar’s secrets

Tacloban City (August 28) — The Eco-Tourism Program of the local government unit of Las Navas, Northern Samar gained momentum during the inauguration of the Pinipisakan Falls Cottage, the groundbreaking ceremony of the boat landing and viewing deck projects, and the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Samar Island Natural Park project management thru Dir. Manolito D. Ragub, Project Manager of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Samar Island Natural Park (DENR-SINP) and the Municipality of Las Navas represented by Mayor Arlito A. Tan.

Witnesses during the ceremonies were Ms. Josette G. Doctor, Provincial Tourism Officer of the Province of Northern Samar, the Municipal Council members of Las Navas and the Barangay Council of Barangay San Isidro.

DENR Regional Executive Director Regidor M. De Leon disclosed that pursuant to the said MOA, the DENR and LGU Las Navas shall jointly allocate, protect, develop and manage the Pinipisakan Falls and Ginagatusan Caves, and its surrounding ecosystem for recreational and ecotourism purposes.

It was Honorable Emil Ong, the representative of the 2nd District of Northern Samar, who first introduced the Pinipisakan Falls and Ginagatusan Caves to this writer.

Two days before the Presidential Visit in Las Navas town on July 16, the good Congressman was with a television crew, navigating the Catubig River, which traverses the entire municipality of Las Navas, on their way to shoot the awesome Pinipisakan Falls, his way of promoting the scintillating secret ecotourism destinations in his district.

With the use of a motorized banca, navigating the Catubig River is the primary thoroughfare for traveling in Las Navas. The same leads to the province’s best-kept secrets, Km 3, a subterranean natural pool, the Ginagatusan Caves and Pinipisakan Falls, a multi-layered cascading attraction.

At the upper most stream, the Pinipisakan Falls, a series of starlike waterfalls, a multi-layered cascading attraction, located 15 kilometers away from the town of Las Navas, Km 3, a subterranean natural pool, and the Ginagatusan Caves are the main attractions of the area and are only accessible by motor boats.

To get to these spots, take an hour-long boat ride and then enjoy a “short walk”, as the local guides describe it. This short walk, as one will discover, is actually a 3 kilometer trek that involves negotiating very steep upward and downward slopes as well as narrow dirt roads — a group will have to walk single-file, one person at a time.

Once one has found what he has set out searching for, he will surely forget how difficult it was to get there, as the waters shimmer in an inviting shade of aquamarine, all that one will hear are the sounds of the currents and wonder at the magnificence of the Pinipisakan Falls.

Congressman Ong’s advocacy to promote the best-kept secret wonders of Northern Samar, was given a great boost, recently, as the local government of Las Navas thru Mayor Arlito A. Tan and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Regidor M. De Leon inked a memorandum of agreement to take the responsibility of overseeing the development, management and maintenance of the Pinipisakan Falls and the Ginagatusan (unexplored) Caves at Barangay San Isidro. (PIA 8/DENR