LOCAL and foreign tourists who are staying in Cagayan de Oro for the summer are invited to experience the breathtaking and heart pumping zip line adventures at the Dahilayan Adventure Park.

The newly opened national park, which is 4,700 feet above sea level is located in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, just 40 kilometers away from Cagayan de Oro city proper.

Dahilayan Adventure Park is famous for it’s longest dual zip zone consisting of dual carrying cables each 840 meters long from point to point, safety cable is also 840 meters long. Total length of cables is 2,460 meters. Elevation drop is 100 meters with estimated speed ranging from 60-100 KPH.

With cool mountain breeze and ever green pine trees surrounding the area, Dahilayan is definitely worth the visit if you’re planning to enjoy the summer with your family and friends. The adventure park also has other exciting activities for their visitors. They currently offer horseback riding trips, ATV rides for teens and adults, the Zorbit, and a Mini-boat Ski ride.

How to go there

IF you’re planning to go there with your colleagues and friends, make sure to hire a private transport vehicle such as a jeep or van. The road passing through Camp Philips (the farm road owned by Del Monte) tends to be a bit dusty during hot season and muddy during rainy season.

While the road going to the nature park itself is a bit rocky and undeveloped so be sure that the vehicle you’re using is well equipped to handle mountainous terrains. From the city proper, take a 15-20 minute ride to Puerto, the entrance point to Bukidnon.
As soon as you reach barangay Ala-e you’ll be stopping by at a nearest footbath station; this is the 1st land mark that you need to remember.

Once you pass by the footbath area, you’ll then be passing towards a rotunda with two roads leading to two different directions the one on the left is the road going to the city of Malaybalay and Valencia, while the road on the right is going towards Del Monte Camp Phillips.
Take the right road and travel further until you reach the pineapple farm. This is where the journey to Dahilayan begins. Just go straight ahead passing by the pineapple plantation fields until you reach barangay Dahilayan.

Just look around for markers that indicate where the adventure park is so that you’re going on the right direction. You can also ask locals around the place so they can point you in the right direction.

Dahilayan Adventure Park Rates:

Zip Line – (Zip Zone Package: Includes 840m and 320m + 150m Zip Rides) php 600.00
ATV Tours – (20mins) php 400.00
Mini Boat Ski Ride – (15mins) php 200.00
Zorbit – (minimum of 2 persons) php400.00
Horseback Riding – php 200.00
(Note: Prices are subject to change without prior notice)

While waiting for your turn to go zip lining you can stay at their newly built gazebos and picnic tables and spend time enjoying the awesome breeze and surrounding view at the park. Food and drinks may be scarce at the park so don’t forget to bring your own food and drinks. Also, due to sudden weather and temperature change everyone is requested to bring their winter coats and jackets.

MORE paved and wider roads will cater to business operators, tourists and people in Mindanao as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to complete major road projects before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ends term on June 30.
“We are bracing completion for the on-going construction of major road networks and bridges placed under the Mindanao Super Region strategy,” DPWH Secretary Victor Domingo said.

Progress reports submitted by the DPWH-regional offices to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) here, show that the on-going multi-billion road projects with a total length of 451.846 kms are nearing completion.

The said projects include: the Dinagat Island Road Network; Iligan City Circumferential Road; a section of the Zamboanga West Coast Road; Region 11 side of the Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia, Bukidnon Road and the remaining four road sections of Surigao-Davao Coastal Road are nearing completion.
“The Dinagat Island Road Network shall allow the continuous delivery of agricultural products of Dinagat to the major markets and trading posts in Surigao del Norte”, said Secretary Jesus Dureza, MinDA chair and super region champion for Mindanao.

Dureza added that ongoing improvement of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road shall also improve the linkage of the towns along the eastern coast of Mindanao.
He also said that once completed, the road section from Bacuag in Surigao del Norte to Mati in Davao Oriental shall hasten the
movement of products from the Caraga Region and Davao Oriental to the Davao Port and nearby ports in Southern Mindanao region.

Moreover, the Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia, Bukidnon road would cut the trip to Bukidnon from Davao del Norte by two hours.
With the construction of the 154.5 kms Zamboanga West Coast Road, the four municipalities of Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon and Baliguian are now connected to Zamboanga City in the south and Dipolog City in the north.

Dureza also noted the on-going road improvement of Awang-Upi-Lebak-Maguindanao road traversing Shariff Kabunsuan and Sultan Kudarat. The project however, is set for completion by June next year.

Aside from these on-going projects, Dureza pointed out that DPWH has already finished two projects namely the Diosdado Macapagal Bridge in Butuan City and the Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan road in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. He also added that as of the first quarter this year, DPWH completed two sections of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road specifically the 66.65 kms Manay-Mati Road and 40.141 Bacuag-Claver Road.

“The P2.1-billion Diosdado Macapagal bridge provides an alternate, all-weather and transport-efficient link across the Agusan River. The bridge serves as an alternate route for motorists during rush hours, saving around 30 minutes when traversing the highway of Butuan City”, said Dureza.
He added that the construction of the Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan road has improved the accessibility of the hinterland in these parts of Agusan del Sur.
Dureza said with these road and bridges in place, the government’s vision for Mindanao to achieve a vibrant integrated economy is within reach.
Domingo also said that with an able infrastructure, Mindanao can even supply the country’s food requirements.

“That is why the President sees to it that farm outputs can be delivered to its destinations”, said Domingo, citing the importance of roads and bridges in the supply chain.

These road projects form part of the Agribusiness Mindanao super region, a multi-billion infrastructure support project started by Arroyo in 2006.
The super region strategy is the grouping of select regions according to their economic strengths while providing them with infrastructure support to stimulate economic activity and development.

For its part, Mindanao is given 36 projects which include roads, bridges, improvement of airports and seaports, upgrading of hospitals, irrigation, energy development and farm-to-market roads among others.

MinDA sits as the oversight agency among government agencies implementing Mindanao super region projects namely National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Health (DOH) and DPWH among others.

Meanwhile, data gathered and processed by MinDA show that as of 2008, Mindanao already has 4545.96 kms of paved national roads. (PNA)

If your financial hardship has left you in a position whereby you are not able to pay your mortgage payment, whatever the reason may be, then you cannot afford to live in your home. Foreclosures are growing dilemma for many homeowners in the country today; foreclosures are at an all time high.

Some lenders out there have not been playing fair, and some even to the point of unethical practices. These unethical practices are a primary reason that foreclosures are at an all time high and not expected to slow down, from what most experts have said.

On the bright side of things, you may have an option that may allow you to keep your home, even if the foreclosure process is already under way. Something that has been around for many years, and you may possibly utilize to save your home and equity. You may need to wait a year or two in order to cash out the equity on the property, but it is better then the alternative.

This option is referred to as a Lease Purchase Agreement, find a tenant to lease your home from you, with an option to purchase the home at the end to the agreed period or time; usually 12 to 24 months. You set a price for them to buy the house when the agreement is signed; this will allow you to set the price so you can save the equity and by some time to recover. With a tenant that has the option to buy your home you may be able to:

1) First and foremost is the avoidance of a foreclosure

2) Since renters are paying less today due to the high foreclosure rates, this may be a way to increase the monthly rent, due in light of the purchase agreement

3) A one-time payment, up-front as a non-refundable deposit, this is usually 2 months and 1 month advance. The best part of this is that even if they decide not to buy your home, you still keep the money

4) Quickly locate a buyer for your property, most times faster then trying to sell you home in the traditional manner

5) Someone else will be paying the mortgage payment, and potentially a few thousand pesos a month more

Lease Purchase Agreements usually work well in any real estate market; these agreements referred to as a “lease option” as well. This is a very valuable strategy to keep in mind, especially during market that in a distress.

While there may be many other reasons to take advantage of a lease option, they are defiantly an excellent way to avoid foreclosure, and salvage your home from the bank. In a foreclosure, your credit will be destroyed for years to come, and the additional financial repercussions can take a tool on your personal life.

For some, moving to retire in another country is an option which has been successful in the past with Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Puerto Rico being among some of the more popular destinations. But why not consider retiring in the Philippines?

Over the past decade, the Philippines has become a retirement haven for thousands of foreigners, particularly the Japanese, Korean, and Northern Europeans. Along with Thailand and Malaysia, the Philippines developed communications, infrastructure, and service delivery systems specifically geared to meet the needs of foreign retirees. Better yet, unlike most European Countries and South America, nearly everyone speaks ENGLISH in the Philippines.

The Philippines offers a significantly lower cost of living. The Philippine Peso (PhP) exchange rate is approximately PhP 48 to $ 1.00 or PhP 96 to 1 Pound [Sterling (GBP)].

Housing, food, and labor costs are quite reasonable. A One bedroom condominium can be purchased for around $ 60,000 or GBP 32,500 or a Studio for only $ 34,000 or GBP 18,000 and one can dine out on average at a three star restaurant for less than PhP 500. If you hire domestic help, a private driver’s salary is approximately PhP 10,000/month, while trained housekeepers earn approximately -PhP 5,000/month. These salaries are lower if you live in the provinces.

Cable Television, Hi-Speed Internet and Satellite Communications are cheap. One can hire an air-conditioned taxicab for eight hours for less than $25.00. In a country where a provincial Governor’s salary is only PhP 28,000 per month and a Presidential Cabinet Under-Secretary earns PhP 35,000, your pension can go a long way. So, if you have a retirement income of approximately $1,500 to $2,000 per month (PhP 80,000 to 100,000) you can live quite well in the Philippines.

As for health care, most U.S. Health Management Organizations pay for medical expenses incurred in the Philippines. Check with your HMO. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs presently has a task force headed by former Secretary Roberto Romulo working to have the U.S. government accredit a number of first class Philippine hospitals for Medicare reimbursement. The Makati Medical Center, one of the nation’s best already has such accreditation. Unbeknown to many is that for years, citizens of nearby countries such as Thailand, Nauru, Tonga, Indonesia, and Malaysia have flocked to the Philippines for medical care, particularly sensitive surgical procedures. The quality of medical care at the better Manila hospitals such as the Asian, St. Luke’s, Medical city, Cardinal Santos, Philippine Heart Center for Asia, National Kidney Institute, and Makati Medical Center meets international standards.

A Japanese company is building a medical facility in Tagaytay city exclusively for Japanese nationals within the year. There are now close to 10,000 Japanese retirees in the country, and the number is growing annually.

The British government recently acquired a large tract of land in Fort Bonifacio to build a new Embassy. The British ambassador explained the larger facility is meant to help serve the growing number of British nationals retiring there as well. Japanese and Korean investment groups are buying homes and condominiums in Manila, and tracts of provincial land for retirees. This has caused a mini- Real Estate boom in the country. A retirement village exclusively for Japanese nationals already exists in Tagaytay, and more are planned. These are strong indicators of what is on the horizon

English is the Philippines’ official business language. Most of the people you will meet, from hotel workers, taxi drivers, sales or service people, government employees all speak English, or have a working understanding of it. The middle class speak English, without exception. All major newspapers and major broadcast companies use English. An English speaking visitor will never get lost in the Philippines. It is the universal use of that language that has been a strong incentive to foreigners. As well, communications links within the country and to other countries via the various commercial gateways is up to international standards. For example, the use of cell phones and text messaging is so common that housemaids, street vendors and food hawkers can be seen using their cell phones incessantly.

One will never want for adventure and sights to experience in the Philippines. There is always a colorful Fiesta, pageants, street festivals, and open public events going on. Lush with bountiful natural resources, one can enjoy the numerous beaches, resorts, golf courses, and play just about any sport, except skiing. There is an ice skating rink in Manila, though. Scuba diving and fishing are among the sports which draw the most number of foreigners to the rich aquatic offerings.

Shopping is the Filipinos’ second most popular activity, the first is eating. Manila is Asia’s undiscovered shopping Mecca. You will love the golden purple sunsets, the fragrance of the flowers at dusk, and the wonderful array of fruit and food. I used to enjoy watching the Sun set from the bar at the Philippine Cultural Center. There, you can listen to the Symphony, check out a play, or enjoy Grand Opera. There is just so much to explore and discover, especially in terms of nature, culture, and history. If you’re a betting man, there’s horse racing, the Jai Alai, numerous first class casinos, and of course, cock-fighting. Manila is well known for its exciting night life.

MANILA, Philippines – As the Philippine real estate market starts to perk up after the global slump, property buyers and investors are urged to take precautions against being misled or duped into investing in land parcels which may not even exist.

Dr. Jaime Cura, chief executive officer of CREBA Land Services & Title Warranty Corp. (CREBALAND), said that many land titles proliferating in the market are infested with material technical flaws which usually cannot be detected by those without technical savvy.

These flaws, Cura said, would not only adversely affect the value of the property, but may also pose serious implications as far as ownership is concerned.

In several cases that CREBALAND has examined, Cura said, these technical flaws turned out to be indications of title fraud or fakery.

One serious flaw is that the titled parcel, when accurately mapped, turns out to be located in an inalienable zone. Cura said that the Supreme Court has invariably ruled such titles to be void ab initio.

Some titled parcels happen to be situated in ravines or floating at sea, contrary to representations of the seller or mortgagor; while some parcels could not even be mapped or located, Cura said.

Still other parcels, which are supposed to be bounded by highways and thus would have higher market values, turn out to be situated far from the road networks; while other titles supposed to be covering large tracts of raw land turn out to be straddling fully developed subdivisions already covered by another title, Cura added.

Precisely to help protect unwary buyers and investors, CREBALAND has recently deployed in the internet the country’s first, fully-automated GIS parcellary mapping service, at www.mapsys.ph.

MapSys will be officially launched during the membership meeting of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (CREBA) on 28 January 2010, 12:00 noon at the Bahia Ballroom of the Hotel Intercontinental, Makati.

As an alternative to the ordinary lot plan and vicinity map used in land transactions, Mapsys.Ph provides accurate parcel maps aesthetically laid-out and packed with multi-layers of spatial information, including a report on the technical accuracy of the parcel.

Thus, with just this single document, a potential buyer or investor
could already make a well-informed initial assessment of the offered property.

A multi-million peso investment by the leaders of the Philippine real estate industry, MapSys.Ph not only resolves the most common problem of banks, appraisers, brokers, potential buyers and investors in locating a property offered for sale or as collateral, but also accurately detects technical errors in titles or survey plans.

“The stability of economic enterprises hinges on the integrity of land transactions that fuel the engine of economic development and growth. MapSys.Ph is one of the ways by which we help ensure that integrity,” Cura said.

THE construction of the USD167.09 million (P7.853 billion) Laguindingan Airport Development Project (LADP) in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, particularly the civil works and buildings, is already 65 percent completed as of May 14.

Access road to the airport was completed in January 2010 while land acquisition for the main airport area is 99.24 percent accomplished with 390.95 hectares already acquired of the 393.94-hectare requirement.

Some 370 families have been relocated: 134 families at Phase 1 resettlement site in Barangay San Isidro, Laguindingan and 236 families at Phase 2 resettlement site in Barangay Tubajon, also in Laguindingan.

The air navigation facilities/equipment component of the project will be financed by the Korean Export-Import (Kexim) Bank loan facility.

On May 18, a five-person team of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) appraisal mission on LADP-Air Navigation Aid System Supply Project visited Northern Mindanao for a site survey and to conduct fact-finding activities for the sub-project.

Accompanied by Engr. Felicisimo C. Pangilinan Jr. of the Air Transport Planning Division of the Department of Transportation and Communications, the members of the EDCF Appraisal Mission Team include Chang Young-hoon, mission leader and director of EDCF Department, Kexim Bank; Yi Ji-Eon, deputy director, EDCF Department, Kexim Bank; Woo Binnah, manager, EDCF Department, Kexim Bank; Chai Seung-su, technical consultant of Inha University; and a specialist of Air Navigation Aid System from MLTM (Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs).

The team also visited the Lumbia Airport Control Tower to see the air navigation system equipment.

The LADP is one of the State-of-the-Nation Address commitments of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for Northern Mindanao.

Civil works are expected to be 72.07 percent completed when President Arroyo’s term ends on June 30, 2010. The project will terminate and will be made operational in January 2012.

FOR FILIPINOS, REGARDLESS OF their station in life, land represents security or peace of mind.

Our farmers are prepared to kill, and be killed, to protect the land they till or on which they depend for their livelihood.

Informal settlers will resist with all their might, even put their lives on the line, the demolition of shanties they call home.

According to statistics, some 39 million Filipinos live on land they do not own or, if they have the right to build on it, do not have the documents to prove that entitlement.

The problem is not confined to Metro Manila. The provinces that have become hubs of trade and commerce in their regions are going through the same experience.

Although occupants of government-owned properties have priority in owning the land they occupy, the titling process—which is judicial in nature—is long winded and, since it requires the services of lawyers, costly.

Application

With the signing into law on March 9 of Republic Act No. 10023, relief is in sight for low-income Filipino families who do not want to be “squatters” in their own country.

Authored by Sen. Richard Gordon, the law allows Filipinos who actually occupy public residential lots to apply for a free patent title over those parcels of land.

In a free patent, title over the property is given by the government to the occupant without any monetary payment.

It is similar to homestead titles over disposable public agricultural lands that the government gave to landless farmers during the 1950s to cool the heat of the then Hukbalahap insurgency.

To qualify for the free patent, the applicant should have, by himself or through his predecessor-in-interest, actually resided on and continuously occupied the subject lot under a bona fide claim of ownership for at least 10 years.

The 10-year requirement represents a 20-year reduction of the occupancy period required under existing laws.

The occupancy can be proven through the sworn statements of two disinterested persons residing in the barangay of the city or municipality where the land is located.

The application should also be supported by a technical description of the lot, and a map based on an actual survey conducted by a licensed geodetic engineer and approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Restrictions

The law applies to all lands classified or zoned as residential areas, including town sites as defined under the Public Land Act.

Also covered are “residential areas located inside a delisted military reservation or abandoned military camp, and those of local government units” that are not otherwise considered protected areas.

With the greater public interest in mind, however, the law excludes lands needed for public service or public use, forest lands classified as such by the Forest Reform Code, and nature reserves and other protected areas covered by the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992.

There is a limit though on the size of the land that can be applied for by qualified applicants. In highly urbanized cities, it should not be more than 200 square meters; in other cities, it should not exceed 500 square meters. For first class and second class municipalities, 750 square meters is the maximum; for the rest of the municipalities, the ceiling is 1,000 square meters.

The free patent application should be filed with the DENR and, for good measure, the law fixes the period within which it should be acted upon.

Benefits

Properly implemented, the law can unlock the value of otherwise stagnant real property.

Depending on the holding period the DENR may require in the implementing regulations, the lot owners can use their property as security for loans that can provide them with capital for small-scale entrepreneurial activities.

Credit institutions are more comfortable lending money to people who have property that can be levied upon in case they renege on their payment obligations.

With their home lots at stake, the debtors become more careful about the use of the money they borrowed to fund their business
. Messing up the business or diverting the money from its intended objective could throw their families, literally, to the dog house.

But the most significant effect of giving free patent titles to deserving families is the self-confidence or pride it will create.

The Gawad Kalinga housing projects best illustrate this development. The communities where the informal settlers were resettled and given their own houses and lots are today models of cleanliness and orderly living.

Suffused with pride over their new found status as property owners, the residents, individually and collectively, properly maintain their homes and surroundings.

The high morale translates to a community spirit that encourages the homeowners to discard the dog-eat-dog mentality that once ruled their lives and instead be law abiding and respectful of each other’s rights.

Hopefully, the informal settlers who are entitled to the benefits of the law will use them properly and not allow themselves be used by unscrupulous parties.

(For feedback, please write to .)

By Cielito Habito
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 10, 2010

SURELY one of the most prominent elements in the political platforms of candidates to national positions in the forthcoming May elections is defining the right strategy for dealing with the persistent peace and development challenge in Mindanao.

Few would dispute that Mindanao is most critical to the nation’s future and overall welfare.

Mindanao accounts for about a
1) third of the country’s land area, a
2) quarter of the country’s population and a
3) fifth of overall income, measured as gross domestic product or GDP.

The incongruence of those ratios already reflects an anomaly, especially in light of what must be a much greater share that Mindanao possesses of the country’s natural wealth. Mindanao, in other words, could easily account for a far greater share of the country’s production and incomes, had it not been for long-standing barriers to attaining lasting peace and development therein.

New Mindanao Road Map

It is in this light that the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), in cooperation with the Mindanao regional offices of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), has spearheaded work to come up with a new 20-year blueprint for the future of Mindanao and its diverse peoples.

The previous blueprint known as Mindanao 2000 covers only up to 2010, hence the need for a sequel plan now dubbed as Mindanao 2020. Notwithstanding the name—chosen because of the catchy and suggestive nature of the number (as in 20/20 vision)—the new plan will cover the period up to 2030.

It is thus intended to guide the various strategies, policies and programs to be undertaken for Mindanao in the next two decades.

The great diversity found in Mindanao presents a daunting challenge for such a planning exercise.

There is wide variation within the island group in terms of natural and physical endowments and attributes, historical and cultural backgrounds, ethnic composition, and political perspectives.

It would thus appear to be wishful thinking to expect that a consensus could ever be reached on the elements of such a plan.

And yet, it is this very diversity that makes it all the more imperative that wide consensus be sought to the extent possible. Even then, one must not entertain the illusion that universal agreement will ever be reached, especially on particular elements of the blueprint that will emerge.

Planning by listening

Key to achieving wide consensus is to adopt a listening mode in the design of the planning process.

Thus, the team that has been put together for the work defines its task as “facilitating the formulation of Mindanao 2020,” rather than formulating the plan itself.

Medco rightly sees Mindanao 2020 as a plan that must be crafted by the wide mass of Mindanawons, not by a small group of experts “playing God” for Mindanao.

Indeed, Mindanawons ranging from ordinary citizens to erudite scholars have long known what needs to be done to “fix” Mindanao.

There is no need to reinvent the wheel here; the content of Mindanao 2020 is largely in place.

It is the process for achieving a widely owned and supported plan that is seen to be the greater challenge.

Knowing it is impossible to hear every single Mindanawon out nor gather every single perspective, the Mindanao 2020 team has embarked on a planning process that seeks to maximize ownership for the plan. Three primary instruments are being employed to this end: A quick survey (QS), focus group discussions (FGDs) across Mindanao, and key informant interviews (KIIs) with prominent personalities who are knowledgeable of and/or influential in Mindanao.

Recommendations from past analyses, consultations and discussions are also being gathered from the literature.

The QS asks two simple questions on Mindanao’s future, and is being disseminated via e-mail, Internet and even text messaging.

The FGDs seek participants who can legitimately speak for much wider constituencies.

The results of more than 300 FGDs undertaken by Konsult Mindanaw headed by Fr. Bert Alejo (who is a member of the Mindanao 2020 team as well) are also now part of the Mindanao 2020 formulation. Meanwhile, KIIs are being done with personalities representing widely divergent perspectives.

Desired Mindanao

After hearing hundreds of Mindanawons in the consultations (which are still ongoing), key words that have emerged for a shared vision of Mindanao are “peace,” “progress” and “prosperity.”

A Mindanao where there is “no fear” is a popular way to describe the desired peace.

Mindanawons also want governance that is culture-sensitive, self-reliant and responsive. They want an economy that is financially self-reliant, physically connected and economically integrated, equitably uplifting the lives of all Mindanawons.

They also envisage the people of Mindanao as enjoying abundant opportunities to develop their human capabilities as individuals and as communities, marked by trust and solidarity within groups, among diverse cultures, and across different regions.

How to get there? Space constraints prevent me from describing, even in general terms, the wealth of good ideas already offered so far by Mindanawons from various walks of life.

Work continues in shaping Mindanao 2020, and will be completed only when the new leadership is in place after the elections.

After all, as critical as the buy-in of Mindanawons themselves is the buy-in of our new leaders coming in 2010.

(Readers’ inputs to Mindanao 2020 are welcome at chabito@ateneo.edu)

Known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls, there are around 23 waterfalls in and around Iligan. Premier among them is the majestic Maria Cristina Falls, perhaps the country’s highest falls and home to Mindanao’s primary hydroelectric power station.

Iligan is also the Industrial Center of the South. It produces hydroelectric power for the Mindanao region through the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), the site of the Mindanao Regional Center (MRC) housing Agus IV, VI and VII hydroelectric plants. It also houses industries like steel, tinplate, cement and flour mills. The National Steel Corporation, one of the largest steel manufacturers in the Southeast Asian region, now Global Steelworks International Incorporated was re-opened in 2003 after heavy setbacks resulting to its closure in 1999. Iligan along with its neighboring city, Cagayan de Oro City, are the two major components for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor, the fastest developing area in Northern Mindanao.

The economy of Iligan was largely based on heavy industries. After the construction of Maria Cristina (Agus VI) Hydroelectric Plant by National Power Corporation (NPC, NAPOCOR) in 1950, the city experienced rapid industrialization and continued until the late 1980s. The largest steel plant in the country, National Steel Corporation (NSC), was also established during that period (Specifically in 1962).
During the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the city experienced severe slowdown in terms of economic growth. A good number of industrial plants are closed, notably the National Steel Corporation. Its closure also created a domino effect on its anxillary industries, causing some companies to close shop while putting others in grave financial distress.

The city made its economic revival on the reopening of the National Steel Corporation, named Global Steelworks Philippines, Inc on 2004. Thus, putting the city back on its track. The current industrial plants in operation and their locations are:

*Treasure Steel Corporation (Formerly National Steel Corporation                   Billet Plant) — Barangay Suarez
*Global Steelworks Philippines, Inc. — Barangay Suarez
*Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation — Barangay Maria Cristina
*Granexport Manufacturing Corporation — Barangay Kiwalan
*Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc. — Barangay Dalipuga
*Pilmico Foods Corporation — Barangay Kiwalan
*Pilmico Iligan Feedmill – Barangay Kiwalan
*Platinum Group Metals Corporation (Formerly Maria Cristina                   Chemical Industries, Inc.) — Barangay Maria Cristina
*San Miguel Corporation-Iligan Coconut Oil Plant — Barangay                             Santa Filomena
*Refractories Corporation of the Philippines — Barangay Dalipuga
*Iligan Cement Corporation — Barangay Kiwalan
*Mindanao Portland Cement Corporation — Barangay Kiwalan
*Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Formerly Alsons Cement Corp.) —   Boundary of Barangay Dalipuga and Lugait, Misamis Oriental

It is a city truly blessed and nurtured by Mother Nature.  It is protected by typhoons by natural barriers as with most places in Mindanao. Its terrain is hugged by a long stretch of shoreline along Iligan Bay.  The rich soil, even rainful distribution, and ideal topography provide suitable conditions for diverse agricultural ventures.

Yet with all the natural wonders and blessing bestowed upon the city, the most prized asset of Iligan is still the warm culture and vibrant hospitality of its people.  Both natives and people of different ethnicity with a long history all come together to make Iligan their home.