ANGELES CITY – Pampanga First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin urged the aggressive promotion of Mt. Pinatubo in Capas, Tarlac as a “major tourism spot” in a bid to generate more jobs and livelihood.
Lazatin filed House Bill 4803 on June 6 to strengthen the existing tourism program implemented by government and Local Government Unit (LGUs) in areas in proximity with the volcano.
Citing Mt. Helens in the USA which erupted in 1980 but now a major tourism spot in Washington State, Lazatin said “the once-feared volcano has evolved into one the most beautiful tourist spots.” He added that “it could pay back the devastation it created twenty years ago to thousands of affected residents by providing employment and livelihood that will uplift their living condition.”
Mabalacat tourism officer Guy Hilbero said “the bill is a welcome development.”
He added that Lazatin’s move “may attract attention” from moneyed firms to establish cable cars in areas near the crater of the volcano.
“The cable cars would definitely earn considering Pinatubo is a world-class tourism spot. But we need the bill to continue and improve its promotion,” said Hilbero, one of the first persons to climb Mt. Pinatubo in 1994, three years after it erupted.
Hilbero said the bill once approved would generate funding to improve the route from Sta. Juliana, Capas to the volcano’s crater dubbed as “skyway.”
He disclosed that there are three other routes to Pinatubo but are designed for trekkers. They are Sapang Uwak in Porac, Sapang Bato in this city and Porac-Gumain in Floridablanca.
Hilbero said the road leading to the skyway is “lahar-based and must be improved and reinforced.”
This route, he added, cuts down the climb to Pinatubo from four to two hours.
