Thousands of Boy Scouts from neighboring provinces are in for a surprise treat as their supposed annual wildlife retreats will instead be held in sprawling manicured lawns surrounded by native and semi-European styled cottages in Nueva Vizcaya.

After months of intensive preparations by the provincial government led by Gov. Maria Luisa Cuaresma, the Nueva Vizcaya EcoTourism Park will be ready in time for the arrival of delegates for the 3rd Ilocos Region-Northeast Luzon Region Jamborette on December 10-14.

Set in a heavily forested but environmentally managed area, the campsite was previously called Buaya Creek by the locals due to handed down stories by old folk that alligators once flourished along the unsullied creek.

The area’s successful forest management was under the care of the Department of Environment And Natural Resources (DENR) before it was turned over to the control of the provincial government during the time of former governor Rodolfo Agbayani.

Aside from delegates coming from the northern provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and host province Nueva Vizcaya, representatives from the northwestern provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Norte and La Union are also expected to arrive in full force in this landlocked province.

Boy Scout’s festivals in the province have been held mostly in capital town Bayombong’s Masoc village, but Cuaresma said this year’s celebration will be special since it will also coincide with the opening to the public of the Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park in Diadi town, one of the governor’s priority projects.

The dark and wild forest with wide-canopied trees reaching out to the main highway provides clean and fresh breeze to travelers passing through the long stretch of tree-shadowed road.

According to Cuaresma, this year’s Camp Chief, most of the wood used in the construction of the cottages, were of hardwood tree species which fell during a super typhoon that wrecked havoc in the province in 2000.

“We cannot call it sound environmental management if we have to cut trees to develop this area and to build the cottages," said Cuaresma, who also sits as chairperson of the provincial Boy Scouts of the Philippines’ Council Executive Board.

Coming from the main road, a short two-2 kilometer drive through a narrow path bathed with shafts of sunlight beaming from verdant covers welcome visitors as they navigate the tree-lined road leading to the wide expanse of the eco-friendly model camp site.

Source: GMA News