“We hardly get any tourists these days,” said the old man as I inquired if the Ifugao house is available in Bangaan, Ifugao province. “Of course it’s available. You get the same rate as you got before.”
Business has been quite bad for Mang Florencio and his Bangaan Family Inn in Banaue since the road to Batad has been finally completed. Tourists these days simply go straight to Batad instead of staying overnight in Bangaan. Whereas before, the inn was the only place you can stay and park your car if you wish to trek to the village of Batad. But progress has made this arrangement unnecessary. The six-kilometer road from the Bangaan junction to Batad view deck is now all well-paved. What was once a three to four-hour trek can now be navigated in an SUV in less than 30 minutes.
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