The trek from the highest mountain to the highest point of the Philippine Highway system on bike this Sunday is postponed, the Department of Tourism announced this week.
This after the province was declared still under modified enhanced community quarantine, said DoT – Cordillera acting director Jovita Ganongan.
“We have postponed the bike event since the province is still under MRCQ,” Ganongan told RNG Luzon.
A post by the DoT – Cordillera said: “We regret that we are indefinitely postponing the launch (Bike circuit) due to the MECQ status of the Province of Ifugao until June 30, 2021.”
Benguet was under MECQ also but was lifted last June 16.
The announcement said that the organizers – DoT and partner local government units of Benguet, the town of Kabayan and Tinoc, Ifugao added that they “committed to ensuring the safety of all participants and parties involved.”
“Thank you for your overwhelming support to the event – having over 97 participants who have signed up – and we humbly ask for your understanding.”
The event supposedly open to 50 riders is to start at the breast of the highest peak in Luzon in Northern, Benguet to the highest point of the Philippine highway system in southern Ifugao. The event will see bikers get to the enjoy not just the cold but also some of the most scenic views in western Cordillera in the Bike to the Highest Point.
The Kabayan – Tinoc Biking Circuit “aims at boosting tourism in the Cordilleras and promoting adventure activities in the region through biking.”
It is a 25.2 kilometer short biking experience, within the ancestral domain of the Kalungaya indigenous people group, that will start at the mystical Lake Tabeo, the easiest to reach of the four mystical lakes of Mount Pulag in Kabayan, Benguet.
The lake nestled 7,487 feet above sea level in barangay Tawangan, which is back dropped by the fifth highest mountain in the country and second in Luzon, Mount Tabayoc, could be the most popular of the four lakes that include Bulalakao, Inculos and the most magical, Latep-ngapos.
From there, DoT – Cordillera OIC director Jovita Ganongan said the 50 bikers will make a stop at Lake Bulalakao, probably the cleanest lake in the country, with its three cleanest lake award under the Gawad ng Pangulo sa Kapaligiran to boot.
Then the riders will pass through the salad capital of the Philippines, Buguias, the northernmost municipality of Benguet all the way to the highest point of the Philippine highway system in Guihngaw, Ehes, Tinoc in Ifugao.
The Guingaw portion of the Kiangan – Tinoc – Buguias Road is 7,968 feet above sea level. It now dwarfs the erstwhile highest point in Atok, Benguet which is 7,400 feet above sea level, and along the Halsema Highway.
“(The bike circuit) is meant to promote the various eco-tourist sites along the scenic highway,” added Ganongan.
The bikers along the way could also have a good view of Junior Pulag in Buguias, a smaller version of the “playground of the gods” which like its big brother quickly changes temperature and air pressure.
In the DoT Cordillera Facebook page, bikers are encouraged to be “part of the history as the first 50 bikers to reach the highest point in the Philippine National Hi-way System.
