Whether this city’s name comes from the Malayo-Polynesian word ag (water) or from the ancient local word karayan (river), locals takes pride in having Cagayan de Oro River or as some would describe it, river of gold. And indeed, even centuries after early gold mining activities in the area by Spanish explorers, the river continues to provide livelihood to the communities where it flows.

Whitewater rafting, for instance, started here as a hobby for a group of outdoor sports enthusiasts. This pastime for adventure seekers now directly employs hundreds and provides income indirectly to probably a thousand more. Among the pioneers in this hobby-turned-business enterprise is Rupert M. Domingo of the Cagayan de Oro Whitewater Rafting Adventure that initially organized group trips to popularize this activity.

Consequently, it grew into a thriving business attracting other entrepreneurs before being aggressively promoted by the government’s Tourism department. Having the distinction of being the pioneer rafting outfitter in the city, the Cagayan de Oro Whitewater Rafting Adventure, now known as Rafting Adventure Philippines (RAP), targeted a bigger market. Its leaders, who eventually became investors, painstakingly surveyed the river and perfected the taming of the wild rapids in the river’s head waters.

RAP started with only a couple of rafts and one guide. Today, it rents out 22 rafts with 30 guides and paddlers. It holds certifications from the International Rafting Federation for safety and river handling techniques as well as from the Philippine National Red Cross on the application of first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Business was good for years until two years ago when rogue Moro rebel units attacked civilian communities in nearby Lanao del Norte, less than two hours away from this city. Tourists arriving in Northern Mindanao dropped significantly and with it, the number of whitewater rafting guests even as new outfitters opened businesses in the city. “I don’t worry too much because we already have a name in the rafting industry,” Mr. Domingo said. “We are not new to this situation anymore.”

The industry has been recovering since last year, although actual figures in number of guests as well as revenues were unavailable. Unaffected by the drought that caused problems on the island’s power supply and agriculture in the first six months of the year, the whitewater rafting industry did well with its peak season running from December to May. Another entrepreneur from a relatively newer whitewater rafting firm said that even as the rapids may not be as strong as the normal runs during the dry spell, the river never really slacks.

“Our well-trained guides know how to maneuver the rafts so that even if there are few rapids, they make sure they’ll hit the big and exciting drops,” said Roldan Kaamiño, owner of Kagay Whitewater Rafting. “Guests would get bored without those exciting plunges,” he said.

Kagay, like the bigger groups into this business, also actively takes part in the protection of the river even as some of its river guides used to be into illegal logging. Part of its briefing before trips is an orientation on the rivers in Lanao provinces and in Bukidnon that all connect to the Cagayan de Oro River.

“We document illegal cutting of trees if we chance on these and send reports to the DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] and the local media,” said Mr. Kaamiño.

The age-old adage that “water is life” has gone beyond its traditional meaning in this city notwithstanding previous experiences where flash floods destroyed houses built along the banks of Cagayan de Oro river.

With six rafting outfitters registered with the City Tourism Office, whitewater rafting is a source of income for many families. SEE RELATED POST

article by Louise G. Dumas of Business World

The 7,700-seat capacity Cagayan de Oro International Trade and Convention Center located at Taguanao, Indahag is slated for completion soon and due to be opened in 2012.

This after Cagayan de Oro City Second District Concgressman Rufus Rodriguez secured the release of additional P200 million for this year 2011. Photo below shows Cong. Rodriguez and some local officials posing with the scale model of the Convention Center. The P758-million convention center is due for completion in 2012. DPWH Regional Director Norma Gironella said they will prioritize the function rooms, water and electric systems of the convention with available funding of P385 million as well as the additional P200 million.

The convention center building, which will accommodate at least 7,700 people, will be an ideal place for international, national and trade exhibits, seminar and conventions. It will be operated and managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority. Based on the schedule, the facility would be usable by December this year.

Accordingly, the plan is to have a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) game as an inauguration activity. The convention center would be operated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) but Rodriguez said he would insist that barangay officials of Indahag and Macasandig should be given a hand in managing its day-to-day operations.

Meanwhile, Singson ordered DPWH here to start the expropriation proceeding for properties that would be used in the widening of the road leading to the convention center in Taguanao. Singson told Gironella that the road leading to the convention center should be at least be six lanes wide.  Rodriguez welcomed Singson’s move, saying that this plan would ease traffic in the area once the convention center becomes operational.

Work is now in progress for the widening of the Puerto Section of the Iligan-Cagayan-Butuan Road (ICBR) or National Highway in preparation for the construction of the proposed flyover project in the said area.

Cagayan de Oro City Second District Congressman Rufus Rodriguez recently led the ground-breaking ceremony for the multi-million infrastructure project in the city. Actually, work has began a few weeks ahead of the ground breaking. Of course we all know how politicians like the drum-roll.

The P10-million widening of National Highway in Puerto is also in preparation for the construction of the P300-million flyover, of which P200 million will be funded by the French government and the remaining P100 million by the national government as counterpart. The flyover is expected to be completed in 8 months.

The project aims to decongest traffic in the area. In my opinion, it will only help vehicles to bypass the bottle-neck at Puerto Junction but will not solve the traffic. The main causes of the traffic at Puerto is the uncontrolled entry of tricycles and trisikad into the national highway as well as the presence of sidewalk and ambulant vendors which occupies the spaces along the highway for vehicle

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