BASEY, Samar — The municipal mayor of this town is inviting tourists to visit Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge National Park, considered Eastern Visayas’ most famous tourist attraction, and enjoy the natural wonders that this tourist destination offers.

In an interview, the mayor, lawyer Igmedio Ponferrada said that Sohoton, which is full of potentials as tourism hub in Eastern Visayas is peaceful contrary to some perception regarding the presence of New People’s Army rebel elements roaming the area. “We are inviting everybody to see and enjoy the beauty of nature in the Park,” he urged.”

In a separate interview with the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) Commanding General, Major General Arthur Tabaquero, the latter said that the peace and order in the municipality of Basey is “now normal and local and foreign tourists have nothing to worry anymore about their safety in visiting Sohoton and other tourist attractions in the town.” He added that the military has already cleared the town and its neighboring municipalities of rebels that used to operate in these areas.

It was learned that Basey was once the hub of NPA operation and where the biggest NPA rebel camp was located in Samar Island.

Tabaquero pointed out that to substantiate his claim, the five-day National Cave Congress held last May 11 to 15, 2009 in Basey was attended by some 300 participants composed of foreign and local tourists from various parts of the country, cave enthusiasts and spelunkers, member of the academe and public officials. “It was successful in that no untoward incident happened during the five-day or so event,” according to the military official.

The Congress was spearheaded by the Philippine Speleological Society Inc. (PSSI) in cooperation with LGU-Basey, the Department of Tourism (DoT-8), and other private organizations.

Tabaquero said his command did not get a single report from any of the event participant complaining of rebels disturbing the Congress.

The Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park covers 840-hectares of forest area. It was declared a national park in 1935. The park boasts of natural wonders like waterfalls, underground streams and caves with unique rock formations such as the Sohoton, Panhulugan and Rawis caves; natural bridge rock formations and pools; Balantak Falls and forest teeming with lush biodiverse wildlife species, and other natural wonders and attractions which have long been drawing local and foreign tourists, hobbyists, treasure hunters, spelunkers, scientists and researchers.