NUNUNGAN, Lanao del Norte (PIA)--With its natural beauty and keeping with it the vast Nunungan Lake, Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park situated at the heart of the municipality was nominated for ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP).
Nunungan Municipal Mayor Marcos Mamay shared that representatives from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) visited the spot on December 13-15 to validate whether it qualifies for heritage recognition.
"Optimistic kami na pasok na kasi doon pa lang sa press con[ference] namin, pasok na. It is a matter of document na lang. Nagbase kami sa feedback nila. Puro magaganda iyong mga feedback," he said in an interview Tuesday, December 21.
[We are optimistic because, in our press con[ference], it is already in. It is just a matter of documentation. We based on their feedback and their feedback is all great.]
Mamay further said that to advance the development in the area, architects from Cambodia came over to the town to pursue a proposal.
Accordingly, a circumferential road will be built around the lake for triathlon purposes, and with the approval of the P40-million budget for the electrification from the boundary of the municipalities of Sapad to Nunungan, a cable car traveling around and a zip line crossing the lake will be both prioritized. Such projects will also be developed by a group of developers from Davao City.
Actor Robin Padilla who also visited Nunungan assured support by promoting the tourist spot to the public.
Awed by the Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park and Nunungan Lake, he said, “Ipopromote ko ito bilang isang artista at vlogger na rin. Kailangan natin ipangalandakan sa ating mga kababayan at sa buong mundo na mayroong ganitong lugar dito sa Lanao del Norte."
[I will promote this as an artist and also a vlogger. We need to boast to our countrymen and the whole world that we have this kind of place here in Lanao del Norte.]
While the municipal government alongside the provincial and national governments strives to provide improvement in the tourist destination, Mamay conveyed they are already in awe of the positive impact in the tourism sector brought about by good leadership even before the present plan of progress.
"We are very much grateful and overwhelmed upon experiencing the influx of tourists here in Nunungan, particularly here in Nunungan Lake. This is a proof or testimony of good governance here in Nunungan," he said as he expressed his gratitude for the collaboration between the national, provincial, and the municipal government which is believed to be the driving factor for their effort to have gone productive.
As known, Mt. Inayawan, a protected area and the last frontier of the province, stands on more than 3,500-hectare land area and is roughly 1,365 above sea level. When officially recognized, it will become the 10th AHP of the Philippines. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Norte)
