By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – The municipal government of Binalbagan has put up notices limiting the number of persons who will be allowed at the Hermit Mountain Highway, the newest crowd drawer in the province of Negros Occidental.
Hermit Mountain, which is located in the upland area of Barangay Bi-ao of Binalbagan, offers natural scenery in the area.
It has drawn thousands of domestic tourists, especially on weekends.
What makes it more attractive is the concrete highway that makes it accessible to bicycles, motorbikes, and cars.
Municipal and barangay officials also decided that kiosks selling coffee and foodstuffs along the highway will be relocated to preserve the picturesque views of the windy and cool mountain.
Authorities said that only 300 individuals will be allowed to enter at a time, and when a number of visitors will leave, a similar number will then be allowed to enter.
Visitors are also being urged to avoid leaving behind their garbage.
Former Mayor Emmanuel Aranda said the place was initially called “Helmet Mountain” because of its shape.
It was renamed Hermit due to the pronunciation of the local residents, he said.
Aranda said the area used to be the Philippine Army’s temporary camp at the height of the communist insurgency in Negros.
Meanwhile, authorities said vehicles without updated registration, and drivers without or with expired licenses, will not be allowed to enter.
Residents in the area, on the other hand, said that it is better to visit the Hermit Mountain vicinity on a weekday rather than on weekends to avoid huge crowds just like what happened last weekend.
