A newly built road costing P150 million would provide easy access to hundreds of foreign and local tourists who would want to see Bukidnon’s largest flower sanctuary, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The sanctuary, built under the Tourism Infrastructure Program is situated at Sitio Kalanganan, Barangay San Vicente, Baungon, Bukidnon.
Also known as the Rafflesia Yard, it was declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a critical habitat of the largest flower in the Philippines, the “rafflesia schadenbergiana’ also known as “bo-o” or “kolon busaw” to the Bogobo and Higaonon tribes of Bukidnon. It is also the second flower in the world, with diameter that can reach up to 80 centimeters.
“Local and international tourists who want to see one of the largest flowers in the world are invited to visit Bukidnon as we have improved the tourism road to Rafflesia Yard in the municipality of Baungon,” DPWH Region-10 Director Evelyn T. Barroso said.
Following DPWH tourism road design standard, the 8-kilometer access road leading to Rafflesia Yard is guaranteed to provide quality and safe travel of tourists with its carriageway’s 6.1 meters width and 0.23 meters concrete thickness.
Barroso said the newly concreted road would allow Baungon locals to showcase their place’s biodiversity, simultaneously promoting awareness on the protection of rafflesia, which is also categorized as critically endangered by the DENR.
Apart from its support to the tourism industry of Baungon, the improved access road is expected to provide easy transportation of people and goods to commercial and public places in Malaybalay City, consequently improving the lives of the people around the area.