Add murky Burnham lake to woes of tourists

DIRTY LAKE Vacation in Baguio City has recently been associated with traffic jams, particularly due to roadworks. But the summer capital’s other problem is its century-old man-made lake at Burnham Park, which turned reddish brown due to red algae. It would take P6 million to drain and replace the lake water, according to officials. EV ESPIRITU/ INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

BAGUIO CITY—The slow traffic flow due to road repairs may be the least of worries of tourists here and in areas outside the summer capital this Holy Week.

The tourist town of Sagada in Mountain Province is also reeling from an online campaign that has been discouraging visitors from going there because of alleged “overbooking” of lodging accommodations and severe water shortage. The claims have been denied by the town officials.

In this city, water at a man-made lake at Burnham Park, where boat rides are offered by concessionaires, had turned murky due to red algae, said Cordelia Lacsamana, city environment officer.

Water in a reflection pool at the Wright Park also turned brown due to algal bloom, she said.

It would require up to P6 million to drain and replace the lake water, according to Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

More tourists are expected this week after Kennon Road, the shortest route to this city from the lowlands, has been made a one-way traffic starting today, April 1, until Good Friday.

Two-way traffic is allowed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. until April 3 to accommodate residents in the area.

Domogan said he was also concerned about the influx of traders who had installed makeshift stalls at the popular Lion’s Head area on Kennon Road.

He said these vendors were prohibited from setting up shops below the statue and were provided stalls a few meters away. But vendors refused to occupy the city-managed structure.

Peak tourism in Baguio begins in December and lasts until the end of summer. In 2013, the Baguio tourism office said the city drew 78,929 tourists in February when it staged the Baguio Flower Festival. But it drew 83,161 tourists in April, due in part to the Holy Week.

The campaign, circulated or shared via social networking sites, complains of an “overbooked” Sagada, which draws people due to its rustic environment and underground caves.

But Sagada Mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr. said there was no truth to the online posts concerning his town.

Robert Pangod, Sagada tourism officer, said the Department of Tourism had alerted the local government on the posts, some of which described the town as experiencing a severe water shortage.

“Sagada is not suffering from a water crisis,” he said. Vincent Cabreza and Kimberlie Quitasol, Inquirer Northern Luzon