The crowd-drawing Abuan River in the village of Bintacan in the City of Ilagan, Isabela, is now open to the public after a temporary closure in February-March for rehabilitation and cleanup.
Abuan River, touted to be the nation’s Next Big Whitewater Destination, is a 65-kilometer essential conduit channel inside the 50,625 hectares of Abuan Watershed, located at the City of Ilagan, Isabela.
A part of the Northern Sierra Madre National Park, one of the remaining tropical rainforests on the island of Luzon that is rich in flora and fauna, the Abuan River is located 82 meters above sea level and is a favorite swimming place among locals and visitors.
For years, the river has been a favorite place for villagers and tourists who do whitewater rafting, rappelling, waterfalls trekking, kayaking and other water activities. But deforestation due to illegal logging, poaching, and land conversion has led to the loss of ecosystem services in the Abuan watershed.
Guests who flocked to the area have also been polluting the river with garbage and other waste.
To save from deforestation, the Abuan Watershed and its stream are protected by The Provincial Government of Isabela, the Municipal Government of Ilagan and the World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines (WWF – Phil.)
Today, it's undergoing rehabilitation as an ecotourism spot as part of the Livable City 2030 vision of Mayor Josemarie Diaz.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonColumn #ColumnbyLeonyGarcia #YourTravelBuddy