By CESAR JOLITO III
The Negros Occidental provincial government has rolled out approximately P30.8 million worth of rehabilitation and development projects at the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary, strengthening its position as one of Negros Occidental’s flagship ecotourism destinations.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the inauguration on Thursday, March 26, highlighting the province’s continued push to modernize and expand tourism infrastructure while preserving the resort’s natural appeal.
Among the newly opened and upgraded facilities were the Camp Nolan trail, a rehabilitated powerhouse, an improved river dipping area, and the Garden Café. The resort is located in Murcia town and is owned by the provincial government.
Lacson said the developments form part of a long-term strategy to keep Mambukal competitive and relevant in the tourism industry.
“With initiatives like this, we continue to give new life to the resort — ensuring that it remains relevant, vibrant, and competitive,” he said.
Major infrastructure upgrades
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said the projects include key rehabilitation works such as the powerhouse modernization, café construction, trail development, and river engineering works.
Diaz explained that the Garden Café, worth P5.8 million, will also accommodate day-tour guests, especially during peak occupancy days.
The electrical rehabilitation, valued at P15 million, centralized all power systems in one facility while relocating electrical cables underground for safety and efficiency.
The Camp Nolan trail forms part of a P10 million Green3x Project grant, supporting ecotourism development and sustainable infrastructure upgrades in the province.
For the river dipping area, Diaz said the province opted for full reengineering rather than basic repairs after damage caused by Typhoon “Tino” in November 2025.
The redesigned facility now features three separate dipping ponds for safer swimming conditions, built through coordinated engineering work involving provincial geologists and backhoe operators using fuel-supported operations.
Expanded ecotourism and wildlife conservation
The Camp Nolan trail now features two routes: one leading to the resort’s six waterfalls, and another connecting to a newly acquired two-hectare property overlooking Murcia and Bacolod City.
Diaz said additional accommodation facilities are planned for the new site to expand visitor capacity.
He also noted that endangered Visayan warty pigs and spotted deer from the Talarak Foundation will be placed in enclosures along the trail while undergoing acclimatization before their eventual release into the wild at the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.
The trail development covered the upgrading and redevelopment of existing trails within the resort complex, with a total cost of P10,522,718.
Lacson said the upgrades mark only the beginning of further developments not only for Mambukal but also for other tourist sites across the province.
“Together, let us continue to position Negros Occidental as a destination that offers not only beauty, but meaningful experiences,” he said./CJ, WDJ