Batanes
ITBAYAT ISLAND
The town of Itbayat is located on the island's west coast. Apart from extensive garlic production, Itbayat also has a relatively large pineapple harvest in June and July. They also have many more coconut trees here than on other Batan islands. Consequently, one has a better chance here to sample the coconut crab, a delicacy that, unfortunately, may be eaten into extinction in the Batanes.
ACCOMMODATION
Mama Lily's Pension (9) - next to Basco's plaza; sgl/100, dbl/200; common tb; 200 per person for room and board; clean and attractive, it is the only pension in the Batanes; for this reason, they have a "take it or leave it" attitude; it's not Mama Lily, but her daughter who now runs the pension
Sto. Dominican College Dormitory (11) - behind the SDC canteen; 50 pesos/bed; crowded room with poor lighting and ventilation; common tb; friendly caretakers
Another alternative is to inquire at the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DSWD (13), beside the capitol in Basco.
When the weather is fine, some travelers simply sleep out in the open. Sleeping on the beach is not recommended because it can get very cold and windy at night.
The Department of Tourism, through the provincial office in Tuguegarao, is attempting to start a home-stay program in Batanes to fill the shortage of rooms during the summer months. This would be economically more beneficial for a larger number of households than constructing and maintaining a hotel that would only be in use for a few months each year. It would also give the visitor a holiday with a personal touch.
COMMUNICATION
Newspapers come only if there are flights and are circulated only in the main towns of Batan. Radio is the only direct link to the outside, although broadcasts from Luzon are often garbled. The reception from Taiwan is clearer, but it is also in Chinese. Ironically, radio communication with Zamboanga and Tawi Tawi (Sulu) is sometimes easier than with Tuguegarao.
All communication offices face the plaza. For telegrams, Basco has a branch of RCPI (6) and, next block, the Telecommunications Office (7). One more block up the same street is the post office (8). As everything is via airmail, for a provincial post office it has a rather efficient mail service to Manila and abroad, but not during the rainy season.
For emergency radio communication with Manila, the Batanes Development Foundation Inc. can be of assistance. They are housed on the second floor of the same building as the Philippine Airlines Office (18).
More on Batanes:
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/philippines/philippines_islands_batanes6.htm
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