‘Curtain-like’ Asik-asik Waterfalls in Cotabato reopened

KIDAPAWAN CITY - The local government of Alamada town in Cotabato has announced the reopening of the majestic Asik-asik Waterfalls, following its two-month closure due to a cholera outbreak in three villages surrounding the tourist spot in May.

Alamada town administrator Ruben Cadava said the falls was opened to tourists again following the declaration of the Department of Health (DOH)-12 that the place is already cholera-free.
 
The cholera outbreak claimed eight lives and afflicted close to 600 individuals, mostly children and the elderly.
 
Cadava said the reopening of the falls has allowed some residents to establish small businesses nearby, as the influx of visitors is expected to rise, especially since the province is celebrating its centennial anniversary in September.
 
“In fact, our office accommodated a lot of queries from local tourists as far as from Metro Manila and from the Visayas region,” Cadava said.
 
He also admitted that despite Asik-asik's closure, there were still tourists from various towns in the province who visited it just to have glimpse and take pictures of the falls, especially during weekends.
 
Cadava, however, could not say how many tourists visited the falls during the period as there was no proper documentation of visitor numbers during the closure.
 
“The outbreak did not stop our constituents [from visiting] Asik-asik in the past days,” he noted.
 
Cadava added that the Alamada government has put the construction of steps leading to the falls on the fast track, as well as road rehabilitation and the establishment of cottages as additional amenities and facilities surrounding the tourist spot.
 
Asik-asik Waterfalls was discovered by villagers in 2008, after Typhoon Frank caused torrential rains in Mindanao, including Cotabato. — BM, GMA News