FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija –The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) of the Department of Tourism (DOT) technical working group headed by Rustan Catiller and Danilo Estacio has cited the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation Area as a tourist destination in Central Luzon.
A recent visit by TIEZA was highlighted by a short information briefing about the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation Area (FMMR) held at the Kaugnay Conference Room and a tour of FMMR area (cantonment area and Barangay Matawe of Dingalan, Aurora).
The FMMR was created by virtue of Presidential Proclamation Number 237 dated 19 December 1955 with a total land area of 44,970 hectares of land. It is composed of the cantonment area, training circuit, Kalinga sa Kawal off-based housing for military personnel, jethropa plantation, National Training Center (Balikatan area), and the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
With a vast area covering the FMMR, the 7th Infantry Division, as the designated administrator of the land, was able to come up with an idea making it as one of the tourist destinations here in Nueva Ecija due to its natural features and strategic location.
During the information briefing, members of the technical working group from TIEZA discussed the possibility and the potentiality of FMMR to becoming a tourist spot here in Central Luzon.
Proposed projects and activities were also discussed, including wall climbing, trekking/hiking, downhill mountain biking, camping, motocross riding, 4×4 off-road driving, zip-line, horse-back riding.
Activities to be conducted on the coastal areas of Dingalan, Aurora as part of the FMMR are kayaking, scuba diving, wind surfing, jet-skiing, para-sailing beach volleyball and many more.
During the ocular inspection of possible site for an Eco-Tourism Park, it was noted that FMMR has the potential to be developed as an ideal tourist destination due to its vast area and natural terrain features.
These include mountainous areas, natural lakes, and coastal areas. The camp can be used for educational tour, good venue for sports activities like golf, mountain trekking, swimming, running and simply leisure walking.
The camp also offers different amenities where family and friends can relax, sing, dine and stay together.
Fort Magsaysay the home of the 7th infantry Division, Philippine Army has a vast land area that remarkably known for its eco-friendly environment has an amazing flora and fauna atmosphere enveloped by rainforest and trees of different varieties that go together with the chirping of birds signifying that the place is a bird safe haven.
“With the full development of the fort and its vast areas as tourist destination, we will see the death of insurgency and the birth of peace, prosperity and development in Regions I and III,” said Brig. Gen. Greg Catapang Jr, 7th ID commander.
