BACOLOD CITY — The construction of the 3.75-kilometer access road to the famous Binadlan Falls in Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan in southern Negros Occidental is ongoing, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Western Visayas has announced.
District Engineer Randolfo Melosantos of the DPWH-Negros Occidental Second District Engineering Office said in a statement on Friday the road concreting started in July and is expected to be finished in May next year.
The project, being implemented with the Department of Tourism (DOT), costs PHP100 million, of which PHP79.995 million is under the District’s 2018 Infrastructure Program. An additional budget of PHP50 million will also be included in 2019 Infrastructure Program.
The completion of the road concreting project is also seen to greatly improve access to the highland barangays of Binalbagan, whose residents transport agriculture products to the town proper.
Binadlan Falls, also known as Bambi Falls, is located about 13 kilometers from Barangay Bi-ao proper. It is is part of Barangay Santol but can be accessed only through Barangay Bi-ao.
The 100-foot waterfalls, which offers a scenic view of the pristine water coming down the forest, attracts not only the locals, but also Negrense “balikbayans” and trekkers.
“Better roads would mean better accessibility resulting to more visitors,” Mayor Emmanuel Aranda said in an earlier interview.
The popularity of Binadlan Falls recently got a boost when a road section going to the falls was featured on national television for being enchanted, as vehicles supposedly have hard time going down in contrast to an easy drive going up.
“Bambi Falls is really the future of Sitio Binadlan so we will continue to promote the destination,” Aranda said.
He added they are constructing comfort rooms and will later put up cottages in the area.
Initially, the municipal government collects an entrance fee of PHP20 per person, but the amount could increase by September.
The revenues will be used to help indigenous peoples and members of Bantay Bukid watching the area, the mayor said.(Nanette Guadalquiver with reports from Erwin Nicavera/PNA)
