BY: EURICA CONCEPCION A. VILLANUEVA
BURAUEN, Leyte – The Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park is preparing to open its doors to nature-loving tourists in the future under the new normal.
Although unsure on the exact date of reopening, the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park Ecotourism Association (MVNPEA) has been setting up measure to observe the minimum health standards.
The Burauen local government unit reported through its Facebook post that a hand washing area for visitors has been set up. The Burauen Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism (BEST) project also turned over on July 16 two thermal scanners to members of MVNPEA.
“This is to help the organization in its preparations so it would be ready once the Covid-19 pandemic is over. The organization, however, does not accept visitors yet as part of the town’s measures against the spread of the virus,” the local government said in a statement.
Proclaimed as a national park in 1937, the site near the volcano is endowed with other natural attractions — a lake, falls, multi-colored mud, hot springs, virgin forests, and lagoon.
Mahagnao Volcano is about 50 kilometers south of Tacloban City and 18 kilometers away from the town center of Burauen.
Although the volcano has been inactive, it is classified as potentially active due to the active thermal features of the mountain. The summit of the volcano is a steep-walled heavily forested crater that opens to the south with a peak elevation of 860 meters.
(Note: The writer is a teacher of Burauen Comprehensive National High School)
