text and photos by Bernard Supetran
Agriculture-oriented tourists and students will soon find a new haven in the pastoral town of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte which recently rolled out its agriculture-based tourism program.
Launched at the Kahumayan Festival, the municipality showcased its rich agricultural yield which is a springboard for agri-tourism, regarded as an emerging sub-sector of the tourism industry.
Kapatagan is endowed with three rich ecosystems of flatlands, upland and coastal making it ideal for eco- and agri-based tourism.
Its vast fertile farmlands and bustling aquaculture industry, the town is regarded as a rice granary and crab capital of Lanao del Norte.
Kapatagan has an aggregate agricultural land of 23,312 hectares—2,373 of which are devoted to ricefields, 1,713 to aquaculture and 685 to bangus fishpens.
The town yields an annual production of 45,197 kgs and has begun producing healthy organic black rice which has noted a sharp demand in the Visayas and Mindanao area.
It also produces 1,980 metric tons of prawns, the biggest in Lanao del Norte. It also yields 26.74 MT of crabs, 48.6 MT of tilapia and 6.45 MT of bangus.
The river village of Taguitic, a major crab producer, has a strong potential for agri- and nature-based recreational activities such as river cruises and educational tours.
Department of Tourism Regional Director Catalino Chan III has already expressed interest in supporting such undertakings which will add diversity to the tourism products being offered by the Northern Mindanao region.
Due to its strategic location, Kapatagan also serves as an agricultural trading post for the neighboring towns in Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur.
Kapatagan Mayor Benjamin Baguio said that the town also has strong eco-tourism potential because of its two scenic waterfalls—Cathedral and Sta. Cruz, scenic mountains and vibrant river communities.
He added that the Kahumayan Festival, which coincides with the patronal feast of St. Francis Xavier, is a showcase of its vast tourism potential.
The locus of the festivity is the street dance parade and competition which depicts the various stages of the planting and harvest season of rice.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Major airlines fly daily to Davao City from Manila and Cebu. It is an hour and 40 minutes away from Manila and an hour from Cebu. Airfare range from PhP4,000-9,000 (US$93-209.30). Taxi flag down rate is PhP40.
From Davao City, take the RTMI aircon bus to Cagayan de Oro (5 hours at PhP500) and from Cagayan de Oro, take the RTMI aircon bus to Kapatagan (4 hours at PhP250).
If you are coming from Cagayan de Oro, bus fare is PhP250.
From Pagadian Airport, PhP 90
From Ozamiz PhP150
From Iligan City, PhP125.
