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Mount Data Hotel: Cordillera’s peace hub

MOUNTAIN LODGING The newly renovated Mount Data Hotel in Bauko, Mountain Province, hopes to attract tourists for its history and amenities. —PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK PAGE OF TIEZA

BAGUIO CITY—The historic Mount Data Hotel in Mountain Province, where the late President Corazon Aquino and slain rebel priest Conrado Balweg first made peace in 1986, reopened on Thursday to help jump-start the tourism industry in the Cordillera.

Also called Mount Data Lodge, the 24-room facility will “play a new role in tourism development [by] assisting in the recovery of the tourism industry,” said Jovita Ganongan, director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Cordillera, who attended the launch at Bauko town.

The lodge, which was rehabilitated by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), was put up during the term of the late President Diosdado Macapagal, who served from 1961 to 1965, “with the goal of promoting tourism in Mountain Province and the central Cordillera region,” Ganongan said.

The Tieza website describes the old hotel, which is located along Halsema Highway, as a rest stop for motorists on their way to some of the Cordillera’s top tourist attractions—the hanging coffins and caves of Sagada town, also in Mountain Province, as well as the Ifugao rice terraces.

The lodge is near the 5,512-hectare Mount Data National Park, one of the first watersheds to be protected by the American colonial government.

Refurbished

It has been refurbished and now features comfortable rooms, a cafe and bar that serves Cordillera coffee, and convention facilities, so it would serve as a tourist destination, given its role in the formation of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The 1986 “sipat” (cessation of hostilities), which was formalized at the hotel, was followed by the issuance of Executive Order No. 220, which formed the region.

“As the tourism industry recovers and moves forward, the reopening of Mount Data will boost tourism and contribute to the gradual and safe revival of the Cordilleras’ local tourism industry,” Ganongan said.

Many tourism-oriented towns in the region have welcomed back guests, although most travelers still head to Baguio City, she said.

The region’s tourism-related businesses suffered from community quarantines and lockdowns, when visitor numbers plunged from 2.025 million tourists in 2019 to 335,028 when the pandemic broke out in 2020, and further down to 143,222 in 2021 when businesses slowly resumed operations, according to DOT records.

Last year, Mountain Province recorded 1,244 guests, down from 21,910 in 2020. Before the pandemic, the province hosted 178,566 tourists in 2019.

Baguio guests

The summer capital, which was the first city to reopen to tourists in October 2020, drew 268,912 guests that year, which was lower than its 1.5 million visitors in 2019. Last year, it hosted 203,387 guests.

But Baguio has experienced prepandemic visitor numbers in March and April this year, with 20,000 to 50,000 daily arrivals.

“As it has been demonstrated, comfortable hotels and lodging facilities play a critical role in increasing the popularity of any tourist destination,” Ganongan said.

She added: “If tourists who are far from home are able to enjoy world-class facilities and services that will make them more satisfied with their visit and make their stay memorable, they are likely to become attached to the location.”

Mount Data Lodge would also be part of a “farm tourism circuit connecting Benguet with Mountain Province, where tourists could visit vegetable and flower farms in Atok and Buguias in Benguet and proceed to the vegetable farms in Tadian and Bauko in Mountain Province,” she said.

Bird watchers could stay there while visiting Sabangan in Mountain Province, “which will be connected to similar bird-watching sites in Alfonso Lista town in Ifugao all the way to Apayao province,” Ganongan said.

Historic Mountain Province hotel reopens to beef up tourism in Cordillera

TIEZA COO Mark T. Lapid (center, in white) leads Mount Data Hotel ribbon cutting ceremonies. With him are (from left) Mt. Province Board Member Johnson Bantog II, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey, Mr. Erlindo Agwilang, Jr. (representative of Cong. Maximo Dalog, Jr.), DOT CAR Director Jovita Ganongan, Bauko Mayor Abraham Akilit, Mr. Jose A. Tombali (representative of Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr.),  and TIEZA Asst. COO for Asset Management Sector  Jetro Nicolas F. Lozada.

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone (TIEZA) has launched its newly renovated, iconic Mount Data Hotel to local officials, media and guests last Thursday, May 5.

Chief Operating Officer Mark T. Lapid, who presided over the ribbon cutting ceremony, stated in his opening remarks, “TIEZA is delighted to complete the much needed renovation of Mount Data Hotel and launch this historic icon to the traveling public. For more than half a century, Mount Data has hosted thousands of travelers who had wished to see the Cordillera’s finest tourist destinations.”

Located on a 7.7 hectare land in Bauko, Mt. Province, Mount Data Hotel features 22 rooms and 2 dormitories, conference facilities, restaurant, bar and cafe, picnic grounds, and an eco-trail. It sits on a sloping terrain situated more than 7,000 ft. above sea level.

Mount Data has been the hotel of choice in Mountain Province since the ’60s, not just as a worthy stand-alone destination but, because it is reached via the Halsema highway, it serves as a stop-over for tourists and travelers going to and from Baguio City, Sagada, Banaue and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cordillera rice terraces.

“The launch of Mount Data Hotel supports TIEZA’s mission to create economic opportunities for Filipinos as the Philippines recovers from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lapid added.

40 million pesos were allocated for the hotel’s renovation that provided modern finishes and refurbishments while preserving the heritage of the hotel. The rooms are all still in its original pine wood but some other aspects were introduced like new furniture and amenities. The hotel’s fireplace remains while the new At-Ato Coffee Shop and Bar occupies the former boiler room. The old upright steam engine boiler was also kept as a reminder of its 50-year history. Other improvements undertaken were the installation of a perimeter fence, street lighting, and construction of new picnic sheds.

Mount Data was turned over to the LGU to operate in 2005. It was returned to TIEZA after 11 years but needed a major renovation so the hotel was closed for the duration. In 2020, a budget was approved to rehabilitate. It was a slow process of renovation due to pandemic restrictions, but the reconstruction continued on as related by Lapid.

Historically, the hotel is best known as the site of the Mount Data peace accord or known as SIPAT, a signing made by then President Corazon Aquino and the Cordillera Liberation Army on September 13, 1986. The accord led to the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

In 2018, the Mountain Province received more than 142,000 tourists. Eyeing more numbers, TIEZA plans to continue to market the hotel as a honeymoon destination. Training sessions are also ideal as the property is also conducive to holding seminars.

ACOO Jetro Lozada shared, “TIEZA is exploring the nearby places and interests as recommended by the LGU to add more tour products for development to be included in a tour package to create a stand alone destination.”

Furthermore, Lapid is proposing to add some more activities like a hanging bridge, zip line, bike trails, and upgrade the Internet connection.

Meanwhile, following its mandate, Mount Data is now open for proposals for a private sector partnership to manage the hotel.

“If we cannot find a suitable private sector partner, and the LGU is interested, then they can operate, but the land and the property belongs to us. The properties are strictly allocated for tourism purposes only,” Lapid revealed.

Mount Data is operated by TIEZA, one of 49 tourism assets under its portfolio. TIEZA’s major source of funding is their 50 percent share from the Philippine Travel Tax.

Iconic Mt. Data Hotel reopens its doors

HISTORIC The Mount Data Hotel gets a facelift to attract more tourists to the province. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BAUKO, Mountain Province: The historic landmark Mount Data Hotel in Sinto Bauko has reopened to cater to local and foreign tourists recently.

The premier facility was erected by the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) during the administration of then-President Diosdado Macapagal with the aim of promoting tourism in Mountain Province and the Cordillera Region.

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) will operate and manage the facility after the operation was returned by then Gov. Leonard Mayaen.

Gov. Maimo Dalog then requested Tieza to turn over the operation and management to the provincial government for 10 years.

Rehabilitation works started in 2014 to refurbish the facility including retrofitting works that led to its renovation and eventual reopening.

TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, in his welcome remarks, said that the reopening of the Mount Data Hotel signals that tourism in the province and municipalities is open — the first step in recovering tourism.

He revealed plans to open the facility as a family-oriented establishment with hiking and horseback riding, among others, in the future. The facility will also be a special venue for seminars and meetings from offices and agencies within and outside of the province.

Bauko Mayor Abraham Akilit commended the Department of Tourism (DoT) and Tieza for prioritizing the improvement of the Data Hotel, which could boost local tourism and create employment opportunities.

Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. represented by PA Jose Tombali focused on the acronym “Tourist” — Teamwork among the stakeholders of the hotel, Oneness in purpose, Unity in service, Respect for the clients, giving the right Information, giving efficient Service to the clients to provide Thoughtful good experience to keep the tourist and clients imparted.

Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. was represented by Erlindo Agwilang, who recalled the history of the hotel as he said that the facility was built more than 60 years ago by the PTA during the administration of President Macapagal.

Mount Data Hotel was the venue of the Sipat or peace pact between the government represented by then President Corazon Aquino and Fr. Conrado Balweg, the erstwhile Chief of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) on Sept. 13, 1986.

The historic event led to the composition of the Cordillera Administrative Region and the provision in the 1987 constitution for the creation of the CAR.

He expressed gratitude to the governor, DoT, Tieza and the community for the full support of tourism development that would bring economic development to the community and the province.

DoT Regional Director Jovita Ganongan underscored that the iconic hotel will spur tourism in the province.

“The Mount Data Hotel comes to life again and is vibrant with the conduct of ‘kolkolis’ and ‘dagdagay,’ the Igorot experience,” Ganongan said.

Those who graced the occasion included Mayor Franklin Odsey of Bontoc, Mayor Marcial Lawilao of Sabangan, Mayor Johnson Bantog 2nd of Besao, staff from the Provincial Tourism Office and Municipal Tourism office of Bauko, and other local officials and stakeholders.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/05/15/news/regions/historic-mt-data-hotel-reopens/1843706