HOME FRONT TERRACES : ONE SIDED DEVELOPMENT

Bolalacao Road Widening along the Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan National Secondary Road

This is the Bolalacao road section being drilled for blasting and widening as of October 2010. Below this road lies the Bolalacao Caves also known as Dangwa Cave and Waterfalls which will be destroyed if not properly constructed.

These trees were cut down. The contractor and the agencies concerned should replant new trees to revive the trees to its original tree park form.

Bolalacao View. The Amburayan river at Gambang.

Bolalacao Caves, Hideout of the 66 Infantry Guerrillas

On the route going to Tublay, Kapangan and Kibungan towns of Benguet, Philippines, various tourism spots abound along this National Secondary road. One of which is the Bolalacao cave at Bolinsak, Taba-ao, Kapangan.

During the Japanese Invasion of the Philippines in 1941 to 1945, the famous 66 Infantry Guerrillas who did not surrender to the dreaded Japanese Imperial Army used the Bolalacao caves as one of their secret meeting place. Major Bado Dangwa who heads the Guerrillas comes in and out of this den to give and get information for his runners. With this den, the guerrillas were able to evade, rattle and eliminate the Japanese intelligence unit in the area. The cave which is hidden down the Bolinsak creek was not only a refuge to humans but is also a sanctuary to birds, bats, wild cats, bees and a variety of rock orchids.

To date, the Bolalacao road is being widened for concreting. This project is implemented by the Benguet Engineering District II and the Regional Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways. The contract was awarded to Domingo Gonzalo Construction.

However, the road widening which needs blasting and clearing of the mountainside rocks cause destruction to the Bolalacao cave biodiversity. The blasting of the rocks runs towards the caves and down into the Bolinsak creek. The blasted rocks have to be bulldozed down damaging anything it passes. Most of the flora and fauna were damaged.

Along this road section, there is an existing irrigation and two domestic water works system which supplies Barangay Taba-ao. These water works projects were severely damaged and disrupted the livelihood of the farmers in the community.

There is a need to upgrade our road system but our natural resources should not be sacrificed. There should be a balanced development as commented by the concerned community leaders. The concerned Governments agencies and the Local Government units who are supposed to coordinate these projects should act without more ado.

These resources are the last remaining natural and historical potential ecotourism sites. The contractor and the concerned agency should not look only on the envelopmental aspect but for the total development of all.

The rocks and other clearings should be deposited to a secure area. The environment should be protected at all cost. The agencies concerned and the contracting party should be responsible in restoring the damages incurred during the road construction on properties and the environment appropriately.

At the north part of this Bolalacao road, a proposed view deck is to be constructed with funds coming from the Provincial Government. The view deck was requested by the Bolinsak Ecopurok Club for visitors and tourists alike coming to this area. A footpath constructed by the community going to the cave destroyed during the road widening should be repaired by the contractor and the DPWH. The landscapes, rice terraces are viewed from this view deck like the following sceneries.