Uguid Subterranean River

The Uguid Subterranean River, also known as Uguid-Maling Cave, an extraordinary talus cave found in Balbalan, Kalinga, is one of the deepest subterranean places in the Philippines.

CAUTION: Uguid Subterranean River is not yet open to the public. Contact the LGU or local tourism office if you plan to go there. This page will be updated [or update us] once the cave is open for tourism.

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Location of Uguid Subterranean River

Address: Maling, Balbalan, Kalinga, Philippines

Coordinates: 17°28’01.700″N 121°12’55.400″E ^[1]

Google Map:

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DENR Cave Classification

Assessed but not yet officially classified.

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Uguid Subterranean River Characteristics

• Length: Approx. 724 meters; altitude: 836 meters ^[1]
• Depth: 119 meters ^[2]
• Spelunking duration: More or less 2 hours
• Mineral deposit formations: Not established
• Is underground river present?: Yes
• Bat population: Not established
• Multichamber: Yes
• Human artefacts: None discovered yet
• Cave floor fill: Water, stones, mud, soil

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Spelunking in Uguid Subterranean River

The Uguid Subterranean River, also known as Uguid-Maling Cave, an extraordinary talus cave found in Balbalan, Kalinga, is one of the deepest subterranean places in the Philippines.

Uguid Subterranean River lies in Maling, Balbalan, Kalinga. The population of this barangay where the cave is located is the smallest in the municipality. Well, residents are only 402 and it only comprises 3.30% of the total Municipality of Balbalan’s population of 12,195 as seen in 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority data ^[3]. Historically, Balabalan was under the Province of Kalinga-Apayao. Later, Kalinga became a separate province by virtue of RA 7878 in 1992 ^[4].

What is different and exciting about Uguid Subterranean River is that it is a talus cave with an active river inside. A talus cave, also known as boulder cave, is formed as boulders and large stones collapse and get deposited at the base of cliffs, gorges, slopes, narrow slopes, or precipices ^[5].

Want to know more about talus caves? Check the following link:
TALUS CAVES: THE FALLEN ROCKS

Uguid Subterranean River is also known to be the 8th deepest cave. Mapping of the depth of a cave involves measuring the altitude between the highest and deepest points of the cave. To date, the deepest cave in the country is the Nagbituka 1 cave in St. Paul, Palawan which is 270 meters deep, followed by Butac Lungib in Camalig Albay; Latipan-Sumaging-Lokohong Cave system; Carmolaon Cave of Bohol; Sanao Cave of Zamboanga del Norte; Nagbituka Cave 2; Lungib Sulpan-Cabalighutan of Western Samar; The Ugid-Maling Subterranean River Cave; the Small Mag-aso Cave system; and the Odessa-Tumbali Cave system with a depth of 115 meters ^[2].

It was first surveyed by a local exploration team in cooperation with an international group sometime in 2013. On 2018, Uguid Subterranean River was assessed by the DENR, though no cave classification was published yet.

The following embedded images are from social media posts:

The flora and fauna of this talus cave is quite interesting, given that there is also an active river inside it. Trogloxenes are highly abundant inside. Bats, snails, crickets, spiders, and others have sought refuge in the safety of these boulder cave. Hopefully, if this site will be fully operational for tourism, the fauna will not be harmed.

In conclusion, Uguid-Maling Subterranean River is a talus cave with an active river inside it. This is a good place for adventure seekers and not for the fainthearted.

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Contact Person/Group

• Social Media (Balbalan Tourism Facebook Page)

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Registration/Guide Fees

• Not yet officially open for tourism traffic.

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How to Get to Uguid Subterranean River

By land:

• Get to Tabuk, Kalinga
  • From Manila (approx 12 hours travel time): Take a bus bound to Tabuk, Kalinga. Victory Liner has a direct route from Sampaloc to Tabuk; or take their bus from Pasay to Tuguegarao, then take a PUJ to Tabuk. Florida Bus also has a Sampaloc to Tabuk and Cagayan route.
  • From Baguio City (approx 9 hours travel time): Dangwa Bus, Auto Bus, and GL lines have buses to Tabuk.
  • From Bontoc (approx 6 hour travel time): PUJs and buses are available to Tabuk via Kalinga Highway and Tinglayan. First trip is at 7 AM and last trip at 11AM.
• Tabuk to Balbalan
  • There are PUJs from Tabuk to Poblacion, Balbalan; their terminal is located at Block 3, Purok 5, Bulanao, Tabuk. Schedule of trips are 7am, 10am and 1pm. fare is around Php180.00

By air:

• Get to Tabuk, Kalinga by air
  • From Manila, there are Philippine Airline flights direct to Tuguegarao. From Tuguegarao, take a PUJ to Tabuk.
• Tabuk to Balbalan
  • There are PUJs from Tabuk to Poblacion, Balbalan; their terminal is located at Block 3, Purok 5, Bulanao, Tabuk. Schedule of trips are 7am, 10am and 1pm. fare is around Php180.00

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Nearby Notable Caves/Underground

• Dinugdugan Cave
• Maanus Cave, Tawang
• Banig Cave, Tawang
• Maaya-Ayas Cave, Buaya
• Uta Cave, Gawaan
• Magangab Cave, Tawang

Non-cave places of interest:

• Banao Protected Landscape
• Balbalasang National Park
• Waterfalls: Tawang Waterfalls, Bagawat Waterfalls, Lultoan Waterfalls, Ligayan Waterfalls
• Giant Bathtub Pool of Ligayan Waterfall (Battong Allan”)
• Palit Lake
• Bolo-Nawoy rice terraces
• Giant Serpent, Gawaan

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Reminders

• Always practice leave-no-trace principle. I have to highlight to please not leave anything inside, do not vandalize, and do not take any physical memento from the cave. Whether it is under the protection of the DENR or not, treat nature with respect.
• If you plan to go there during dry season, please bring enough water to quench your thirst on the way to the cave and during the spelunking activity.
• It is highly advisable to contact your guide a day before and arrange transportation in advance if you are not commuting or using private car.
• Wear a comfortable non-slip, close-toed rubber shoes for the hike to the cave.
• Get a complete extra set of clothes to change to after you get out of the cave.
• Since there is a subterranean river inside, bring zip bags for your gadgets. Also, consider re-scheduling your activity if there had been a continuous heavy rain in the area.

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References

[1] Camargo, R. & Cordeiro, L. 2015. Expedição espeleológica internacional à região norte de Luzon, Filipinas. [online] Available at <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309286334_Expedicao_espeleologica_internacional_a_regiao_norte_de_Luzon_Filipinas_2015> [Accessed 27 August 2020].

[2] Wacas, R., 2015. Baguio Midland Courier Website. [online] Baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph. Available at: <http://baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/environment.asp?mode=%20archives/2015/august/8-30-2015/env6-Cave-in-Balbalan-is-RPs-8th-deepest-cave.txt> [Accessed 23 September 2020].

[3] Philippine Statistics Authority-Cordillera Administrative Region. 2020. 2019 Registered Births Marriages And Deaths In Kalinga. [online] Available at: <http://rssocar.psa.gov.ph/Kalinga/releases/2019%20Registered%20Births%20Marriages%20and%20Deaths%20in%20Kalinga> [Accessed 27 July 2020].

[4] Donqui-is, J., n.d. The Kalinga – National Commission For Culture And The Arts. [online] National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Available at: <https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/northern-cultural-communities/the-kalinga/> [Accessed 27 July 2020].

[5] Milan, G., 2020. Talus Cave: The Fallen Rocks. [online] Pinoy Spelunker. Available at: <https://pinoyspelunker.com/talus-cave/> [Accessed 23 September 2020].

Header Image

Balbalan Tourism. 2018. “Talus caves are openings formed between boulders piled up on mountain slopes.” Hence, Ugid Underground River is a talus cave. [Facebook Page status update] [Online]. Available at <https://www.facebook.com/balbalantourism/photos/p.560792910987552/560792910987552/?type=1&theater> [Accessed 27 August 2020].

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Disclaimer: As much as we want to give the most accurate information for the readers, change will always occur (e.g., contact number, transportation, fees, etc.). With this, please do comment below any updates as well as corrections on the content, anything amiss, or any information that you think is crucial to the readers. Iyaman!