pn: Manleluag Hot Spring severely affected by El Nino phenomenon

[Phil. News Agency]

MANGATAREM, Pangasinan, Jan. 9 (PNA) --The Manleluag Hot Spring, the
top tourist destination in south-central Pangasinan, is now also
severely affected by the El Nino phenomenon that swept most parts of the
country.

This was revealed by Augusto Bautista, officer-in-charge of the
Manleluag National Park, who said the water level at the hot spring from
where lukewarm water said to be medicinal is coming from.

Alarmed by the sinking of the water level of a well that generates
water for two swimming pools in the area, Bautista has asked geologists
from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office
to study the situation there.

He said his office wants to find out if it is the El Nino phenomenon
that caused the water level on a well from where the lukewarm water is
coming from to sink.

"We are worried because in ordinary times in this period of the year,
the well was still overflowing," Bautista told the Philippines News
Agency.

He added that he wants to confirm from experts whether vehicles
coming to the park were contributing to the sinking of the water level
at the hot spring by compressing the soil through their own weight.

The Manleluag Park, said to be the only remaining forest cover of
Pangasinan now, is being managed by the DENR. Lately, however, the
Philippine Tourism Authority contributed some 10 million pesos for the
construction of some tourist facilities at the park.

These include three cottages that can accommodate small size
families for a night stay, a pavillon that can sit in at one time some
600 people, comfort rooms, a waiting shed and a PTA office.

Bautista, however, said that if the hot spring will lose its water,
there is no reason that tourists will continue to flock in Manleluag as
the swimming pools thereat will no longer be functional.

Peak time for tourists coming to Manleluag are during summer and
Christmas vacations when the headcount reaches more than 100 daily.

Manleluag Park offers not only swimming but also group picnics and a
chance for everyone to commune with nature as the area is the only
remaining rain forest in Pangasinan today. (PNA) lvm/MGS/rma

PNA 01091047

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