Libacao: Discover and Explore
Libacao Aklan is a fourth-class interior municipality 29 kilometers southwest of the capital town of Kalibo and located in the borders of Antique, Capiz and Iloilo provinces in Panay Island in Central Philippines. It has vast land area, a relatively colder weather condition and beautiful natural scenery consisting of green valleys, upland farms, high mountain ranges, virgin forests, tropical flora, fauna and wildlife and numerous waterfalls, natural springs and wild rivers and creeks.
It is also rich in natural resources and minor forest products and blessed with fertile lands and climate favorable to agriculture which enabled the town to become the leading producer of abaca fiber in Western Visayas and major producer of rice, cattle, bananas, copra, vegetables, bamboos, root crops and fruit such as; lanzones (seedless, duco, longkong, native and wild varieties),durian. marang, mangosteen, seedless pomelo, rambutan and local oranges in the province and has all the potentials to produce high value crops, tropical flowers, vegetables and fruits.
The town's 24 barangays are now accessible transportation except for the remaining 2 which could only be reach by foot, with the farthest would take a day of hiking. The use of motorcycles has become the practical means of public conveyance in the locality, almost all of these areas are inhabited by indigenous people with the distinct ethnic culture and traditions spared from undue influence of modern civilizations. Thus, Libacao is considered the repository of Aklan's ethnic culture.
Specifically, Libacao's forest areas serves as the main watershed of the Aklan River is said to be the remaining forest cover in the Island of Panay and endowed with so many natural springs and waterfalls and breathtaking scenic beauty and mountain ranges, including the imposing Mt. Nangtud, the Highest peak in Central Panay with GPS (Global Positioning System) recorded height of 2,150 meters. This could be found in barangay Dalagsaan on the southwest portion of Libacao bounding the Municipalities of Tibiao and Barbaza in Antique and belongs to the mountain ranges of Mt. Baloy. Indigenous people in the area called it "Iglangit" meaning gateway to heaven beacause of the clouds and fogs that surround its peak. Mountaineering groups from Bacolod and Iloilo treeked an average of 3 days to reach the peak.
Libacao's wild river at the head water of the Aklan River. This covers the river stream from barangay Dalagsaan to Loctuga and is suited for "Bamboo Rafting Challeng", a rare and unique tourism adventure which was made the front cover of Discover Philippines magazine (vol. 11, Issue 3, 2005) and was featured twice in national television ABS-CBN's "Magandang Gabi Bayan" (October 1 and November 30, 2005). It also has a yearly "Baesa Karera and Parada" Festival which is being held every November 24th during the town's municipal and religious fiesta and the "Kali-ugyon Festival" every December 30-1st day of incoming year.
Mayor Charito I. Navarosa and local officials now spearheaded the opening of Libacao as another tourist destination in Aklan that would compliment the "white beaches' of the world famous Boracay with attractions to include; bamboo rafting, kayaking, inland and mountain biking, rough-riding motoring, air gliding and many more.
Moreover, Libacao is the site of the proposed multi-million dollar Hydro Electric Power Project of the California Energy, Int'l, a US-based company and subsidiary of Mid-American Holdings, a Global leader in the production, supply and distribution of energy.
(photo grabbed from Discover Philippines magazine)
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