Baguio's Igorot Stone Kingdom reopens after months-long closure
Tourists planning to cool down in Baguio can now add the Igorot Stone Kingdom to their itineraries, as the popular man-made attraction has reopened to tourists on Monday, April 3.
The schedule of its opening was initially announced by the Igorot Stone Kingdom Facebook page last Dec. 7, 2022, with the Baguio City Public Information Office sharing footage of Mayor Benjamin Magalong at the tourist site's re-opening ceremony on April 3.
During the event, Magalong told reporters that the government has decided to reopen the establishment with a "provisionary permit," which was granted to the Igorot Stone Kingdom after it accomplished its commitments concerning its 2022 closure.
"Ang requirement kasi sa amin is that all the city issues are being addressed. Pangalawa, lahat ng i-finile naming cases are dismissed—anong resolution ang nangyari, anong decision ng prosecutor... Pangatlo, they have to secure a community approval... another is zoning," Mangalo said.
"So I decided to schedule a dialogue with them, I think that was a month ago, and maganda naman yung mga binibigay ng komunidad, madami silang [binigay] na commitment. And according to no less than the city administrator, naibigay naman nila ang kanilang mga commmitment. Obserbahan namin," he continued. "We are giving them a provisionary permit lang. We'll be observing them on how they are compliant with the requirements na ibinibay namin at kanilang mga commitment na pinapagawa namin."
Igorot Stone Kingdom has been famous among tourists since it was opened to the public by owners Pio and Haiji Velasco in May 2021. The 6,000-square-meter property features artificial stone structures inspired by castles and the Banaue Rice Terraces. They were built with the use of the stone masonry famous among Igorots.
On Nov. 9, 2022, over a year after its launch, the Igorot Stone Kingdom was shut down by the local government for its alleged failure to secure business and building permits which consequently violated the Presidential Decree (PD) 1096 or the "National Building Code."
In addition, Magalong said that the structure has a "very high landslide exposure" and is "prone to erosion" as declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The city prosecutor's office, however, dismissed the charges in March 2023. City Prosecutor Conrado Catral Jr. at that time approved the letter signed by Prosecuting Attorney Oliver Isabelo Prudencio, stating that the Velascos completed the building requirements needed for their property which were, in turn, received by the Office of the City Administrator.
Speaking to UNTV, City Councilor Mylen Yaranon said that the local government additionally conducted slope stability of the property, as well as public consultation with barangay officials and residents.
"We had a public consultation, tapos madaming dumalo, yung mga residents ng Stone Kingdom at mga may-ari. At naging maganda naman 'yung usapan," Yaranon stated.
Tourists who wish to visit the Igorot Stone Kingdom can find the tourist destination at 362 Longlong Road near Tam-Awan Village. It is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and has an entrance fee of P100 for adults and P80 for kids four to 12 years old. Children three years old and below can enter the tourist spot for free.