Bakong River, located upstream from the eastern confluence of the estuary of the Abatan River in Cortes harbors rich biodiversity. This river also played an important role in the history of Cortes, particularly in a place known as Dayhangan where the seat of government was sometimes transferred when the early residents avoided the pirates (Apalisok, 1992). The early settlers of Bakong (now Salvador), Buabog (now Malayo Sur), Simoa (now New Lourdes) and Lujog-Bakong (now Lourdes) traditionally engaged in hunting, shifting cultivation and fishing within and adjacent to the river.

According to Apalisok (1992), the burial place was even moved for sometime on top of the hill “Pangi” along Bakong River in the 1800s. During the Japanese occupation, the guerilla established a guardpost at Dagohong along Bakong River, and it was in this post where bolomen Maximo Genoso and Felix Hubac were captured and never been heard of until the present. Bakong River is one of the most relevant river systems that never ceased to play a role in the social, economic and cultural lives of many Cortesanons who derive a variety of the ecosystem products either from the river itself or from its riverbanks. The river links tens of hundreds of locals from five barangays of Cortes to Maribojoc Bay and into the open sea for fishing. There are at least 8 docking areas for local fisherfolks and gleaners along the 2-kilometer stretch of Bakong River. During the short-lived economic boom of Cortes in the 1960s, Dagohong became a by-word among picnickers when a dam was constructed to generate electricity for Rolling Mills and the Malayan Guest House, then owned by Gregorio Concon. On the upstream and on the slopes along the river banks, farms produced abundantly. Local communities gathered fresh water from the many springs along the river. There are also certain points along the river where local communities utilize as bathing area, and where village women and children do their laundry particularly on weekends. At times when the municipality’s local waterworks fail to distribute water to households, communities adjacent to the river and even those coming from the Poblacion come to Bakong River to do their washing. The largest and most popular among these springs is Uhan Spring situated in barangay New Lourdes.

A trek in the Bakong River starts at the Bacong bridge located at the boundary between Upper de la Paz and Salvador. Paddle boats can be hired upstream to Bakong footbridge where the boat ride will end. Trekking starts from there, to Dagohong, then even farther upstream to Ohan Spring. It takes about an hour or so....wading in shallow waters, climbing up on rocks and hillsides, clinging on to vines and roots, then going down again or even swimming.....in the deeper part.....Pwede molangoy, pwede sab mokatkat didto sa bakilid..and experience the thrill of almost falling down into the deep......