Kweba: E.B. Magalona’s new site for coolest adventure

The E.B. Magalona town in northern Negros Occidental has a newest site for anyone, or group that wants to explore a coolest adventure.

It’s Kweba (cave), and it is located beside Malogo River in Sitio Calaptan, Barangay San Isidro.

Kweba is a new found location seen as potential for eco-tourism promotion.

Highlighted by a natural spring, this river site is really “swak” for group or family camping adventure.

Being untouched still, Kweba maintains a natural setting ideal for someone craving to “commune with nature”.

Complementing Kweba’s serenity and natural aura is a 500-meter lido (bathing area) within Malogo River, also ideal for group swimming.

E.B. Magalona Mayor Matt Malacon said the local government has already spent some budget for the development of the area surrounding Kweba.

“We developed the entire area enveloping Kweba, we built cottages and we maintain cleanliness within the surroundings because we want this place to be our next eco-tourism destination,” he said, “This is one wonderful place (Kweba) that, for sure, tourists, especially nature lovers will like and love because of its serenity and coolness.”

Locals in Sitio Calaptan were also organized to help maintain cleanliness inside and outside of Kweba.

Malacon said there is no entrance fee yet in Kweba.

Currently, E.B. Magalona’s tourism promotion is being headlined by Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail (TMET) in Barangay Tomongtong, known for its “pangka-pangka” seafood restaurants under the decades-old lush magrove forest.

This 20-hectare forest of salt-tolerant mangrove species is not just a manifestation of how E.B. Magalona is championing environmental protection and preservation, but also how it aggresively markets its fresh sea catch of the day like the famous blue crabs.

Tomongtong, once an impoverished community-turned-“blue crabs capital” of Negros Occidental, is now among the economically-thriving villages in town.

The million-peso blue crab industry helped propel E.B. Magalona became one of the first class municipalities in the province since November last year.

The town’s fish landing site located along the national highway in Barangay 2- Poblacion is also a “must-visit” place.

Here, fresh and affordable sea catch is available daily starting at 3 to 7 a.m.

E.B. Magalona’s fish landing is not only a revenue raker, but also serving as a tourist destination in the town proper, considering of its prime location, which is accesible to the public, including those who are in transit because it can easily be seen along the road.

Complementing TMET and fish landing are Barangay Canlusong’s Dabo-Dabo Falls and rice terraces.

Reaching this once a rebel-infested barangay, some 36 kilometers from the town poblacion, is no longer a challenge.

Having a concrete road, Canlusong now offers a breakthtaking experience to anyone, especially for tourists alike.

With Kweba just minutes before reaching Canlusong, Malacon is optimistic for an upbeat farm or upland tourism.

“I know we have a lot of tourism potentials. But what we need is just focus and persistency in harnessing our prospected tourism gems. Then, let’s invest more on sustainability mission,” he said.

“Hence, under my leadership, we want to discover our unexplored eco- tourism assets one spot at time,” he concluded.*