Malaybalay faces test of balancing development and environmental protection

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY  (May 27) — As major road projects cut across parts of Bukidnon, the Malaybalay City government is now facing growing pressure to protect one of its emerging eco-tourism sites from environmental damage linked to infrastructure construction.

Mayor Warren Jay Pabillaran on Tuesday ordered the City Environment and Natural Resources Office to investigate reported disturbances surrounding Malinao Falls in Barangay Kalasungay and implement immediate rehabilitation measures.

“We are for development, but as much as possible we should take care of its environmental side,” Pabillaran said.

The concern centers on Malinao Falls, a rising tourist destination known for its clear waters, dense vegetation, and tranquil forest setting — now threatened by nearby construction activities tied to a regional road expansion network.

The infrastructure works include bypass and diversion roads connecting the municipalities of Manolo Fortich and Impasug-ong to the cities of Malaybalay City and Valencia City — projects expected to improve mobility, trade, and tourism access across central Bukidnon.

But the same developments are now drawing criticism from local Indigenous leaders who fear the environmental cost may outweigh the benefits if safeguards are not enforced.

Barangay Kalasungay Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative and tribal chief Joemar Sario formally sought a government assessment after residents observed worsening conditions near the falls.

An earlier report by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office found “significant environmental disturbances” in the area, including siltation along riverbanks following the May 21 inspection.

The issue highlights a growing challenge confronting many Mindanao communities: how to pursue rapid infrastructure growth without damaging fragile ecosystems that also sustain local tourism and Indigenous communities.

For Malaybalay, the outcome could shape not only the future of Malinao Falls, but also public confidence in whether development projects in Bukidnon can proceed without sacrificing environmental protection.