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Kasibu is a town in Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. It is the province's "citrus capital" due to its extensive production of the fruit, and also has multiple natural attractions and indigenous tribes coexisting uneasily with one of the largest gold mining operations in the country.
Understand
[edit | edit source]For much of its history, Kasibu was a small village inhabited by Ilongot (now known as Bugkalot) tribes along the headwaters of the Magat River along the Namamparang mountains separating Nueva Vizcaya from Quirino province. Since the 20th century, it has been one of the country's leading producers of oranges and other citrus fruits on account of its mild temperature, fertile soil and elevation.
Kasibu is an ethnically mixed town inhabited by Ilocano migrants, Bugkalot tribespeople and Igorots relocated there following the damming of several rivers along the Luzon Cordilleras in the 1970s. Its main economic activities are agriculture, ecotourism, and controversially, the extraction of gold and other precious minerals in Barangay Didipio by the Australian company OceanaGold since 1994, a topic that arouses intense debates in Nueva Vizcaya.
It is home to about 47,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]Kasibu is bypassed by the Maharlika Highway, the main thoroughfare in Nueva Vizcaya. Instead, it is connected to the road through a two-lane provincial roads linking the area from Bambang. The only forms of public transportation heading to town are jeepneys and tricycles. There are also rudimentary road connections from Solano via Quezon municipality, and Cabarroguis, the provincial capital of Quirino.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the most common transport between barangays, but due to uneven terrain, an SUV or any 4WD is recommended.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Capisaan Caves, Capisaan. The fifth longest cave in the country at 4.2 km (2.6 mi). It has layers of cave network including Lion and Alayan Caves with rare calcite formations and a subterranean river which doubles as a passageway to the best part of the cave. Brgy. Capisaan is about four hours by jeep from Solano on feeder and clay type soil road carved out of mountain sides. Tours can be arranged with the Sang-at-Salug Mountaineering Group or the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya.
- 2 Edralin Falls, Antutot. A 7-tier cascade. Due to overcrowding, a 100-person visitors' limit is imposed during peak seasons.
- 3 Machalet Falls, Biyoy. A 7-tier cascade.
- 4 Alimadin Falls, Papaya.
- 5 Dimmalikan Peak, Cordon. A 1,433 metres (4,701 ft) high mountain named after the three conjoined boulders at its summit.
Do
[edit | edit source]- Capisaan Nature Walk, Capisaan. An eco-trail near Capisaan Cave in which the area's diverse avian population can be spotted.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Kasibu is where one can buy citrus fruits directly from farms before their prices get jacked up in the market due to transportation costs. Some farms also offer direct harvesting to visitors. Most citrus farms are concentrated in the Malabing Valley, east of downtown Kasibu and in the same area as Capisaan Cave.
Another souvenir from Kasibu is mun-abol textiles made by indigenous weavers.
- 1 Kasibu Public Market, Poblacion.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Apart from citrus, local delicacies include Igorot dishes such as piniwak (chicken stew) and binakle (glutinous rice cake with brown sugar, coconut milk and ground peanuts).
Drink
[edit | edit source]Kasibu is a major producer of coffee in the region, marketed under the Kasibrew brand.
- 1 Bumolo Integrated Coffee Farm, Provincial Road, Poblacion, ☏ +63 939 116 8652, bumolosintegratedfarm@gmail.com. 7AM-6PM M-Sa, 10AM-5PM Su.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]There are a few homestays in town.
- 1 Heartland Farm and Hotel, Banaga Street, Purok 7, Poblacion, ☏ +63 966 978 7737, heartland.farmandhotel@gmail.com.
- 2 Pawid Homestay, Capisaan. A homestay run by a tour guide to nearby Capisaan Cave.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Parts of Kasibu along the Namamparang Range are vulnerable to landslides, especially during the rainy season. There may also be a few New People's Army rebels hiding in the those areas.
Respect
[edit | edit source]The presence of a gold mine operated by OceanaGold in Barangay Didipio has been a divisive environmental and political issue in Nueva Vizcaya. Caution is advised when discussing the topic.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town's postal code is 3703.
Go next
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