Want a new adventure spot up north? A tourist attraction that could be similar to the Underground River in Palawan?
Then try the Magangab and Maanus Cave in Sitio Bagwang, Barangay Tawang, Balbalan, Kalinga which opened on Tuesday, Sept. 27, to cave experts, educational tourism, tourists, and the public.
HOW TO GO THERE
Coordinate first with the Balbalan Tourism Office via call or text to 09057795322 or directly message the Balbalan Tourism Facebook.
Inform them at least a day before going there to give ample time for the local government unit to assign a tour guide for you.
Privately owned transportation is recommended – a 4 x 2 vehicle may suffice – and it is best to travel with someone or by group to maximize the trip and experience.
If you prefer to take the public utility vehicle, there is a passenger jeepney from Tabuk City to Poblacion, Balbalan.
The terminal is located at Block 3, Purok 5, Bulanao Centro, Tabuk. Transportation leaves at 7 a.m., 10 a.m., and 1 p.m., and the fare is around P150 each.
It takes a minimum of an hour and half, maximum of two hours travel time to the drop off point at Tawang Elementary School.
Tourists from Metro Manila may take any bus going to Tabuk City and the trip may take more or less 12 hours.
There is a temporary triage and registration area at the entrance of Tawang Elementary School. Register and pay fees there.
HOW MUCH?
Environmental fee is P25 and entrance fee P100 per person. A group of four persons can hire a tour guide for P1,000.
For research and educational purposes, ask the fees directly from the local government unit.
After paying, you are all set for a 20-minute trek from the registration area to the entrance of the cave.
WHAT TO WEAR
Caving suits are recommended (like tough boiler suits) if you will be crawling and passing through smaller spaces as they provide an extra layer of protection.
Knees and elbow pads also help to keep you comfortable as you negotiate the uneven terrain.
If none, full arm rash guards and leggings may do as long you are comfortable. Caving boots or sandals are recommended.
REMEMBER THESE
Respect the community and read and understand the imposed municipal ordinances.
They do not allow tourists to go inside the caves without a guide.
The community also enjoys their privacy and maintains the cleanliness of their surroundings.
Avoid bringing loud mobile speakers or loitering and littering on the way, inside the caves, and everywhere.
Vandalism is also prohibited.
WHERE TO STAY
There are home stays within Balbalan. The Tourism Office may arrange a play for you to stay.
Visitors may coordinate and arrange their meals and snacks with the local government unit.
The local government unit may tap locals to prepare food for tourists to purchase. You can take packed meals with you.
There are few sari-sari stores within the vicinity of the caves that sell basic necessities.
Locals have soft brooms, packed and ground robusta coffee, souvenir shirts, fruit wines, and mugs for sale.
ON THE WAY
Barangay Tawang is a landscape of sinkholes, submerged streams, caves, and springs.
Along the way to the caves, you may pass by a hanging bridge, farms, picturesque slopes and crystal clear rivers and brooks that you might be enticed to take a dive.
Magangab and Maanus Cave can be considered a wonder because there is an underground river, teeming with fauna and with impressive speleothem formations, poised to attract more visitors to this town topographically blessed with karst.
Magangab and Maanus Cave is under the karst topography of the community and rock formations are abundant inside.
Residents here say the name of the cave comes from the native word "aggab" – the sound of moving underground rocks carried by strong currents of flowing water, usually during heavy rains.
Elders say that this sound has been heard by people living around the cave during their early settlement in the area.
Since the cave has an underground river, expect to get muddy on the way, so be prepared to remove your shoes if you don't want to get them dirty and wet during spelunking.
If you plan to livestream your adventure, you won’t be able to do so as there is no signal in the cave.
WHAT THEY SAY
Balbalan Mayor Almar Malannag has issued Executive Order No.25-22 to formally open the famous caves as a tourist attraction and destination in celebration of the World Tourism Month.
The local government hopes to boost tourism economy in the province, the town, and the community through the cave.
A series of information and education campaigns were held in Barangay Tawang to increase awareness and knowledge of sustainable tourism as well as training for guides to ensure the satisfaction and safety of tourists entering the cave.
Kalinga Gov. James Edduba assured the full support of the provincial government in the development of the local tourism industry.
He said this is an opportunity to recover from the loss of more than two years in the tourism economy caused by the pandemic.
Edduba called on the community to remain vigilant against the corruption of values and the evil of their commercialization.
According to Edduba, the Office of the Congressman also contributed greatly to the discovery and promotion of the caves by opening roads that now provide easy access for tourists.
He said the road near Magangab and Maanus Cave was opened during the tenure of Balbalan Allen Jesse Mangaoang using local funds.
The cave was classified as Class II cave by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on May 9, 2019.
Class II caves are caves with areas or portions which have sections that have hazardous conditions and contain sensitive geological, biological, archeological, cultural, historical, and biological values or high quality eco-system but it is open to experienced cavers or guided educational tours.
Jovita Ganongan, regional director of the Department of Tourism-Cordillera, congratulated Balabalan, especially the community of Barangay Tawang, for the opening of a new eco-tourism site that will greatly contribute to sustainable tourism in the Cordillera.