ITOGON, Benguet — For decades, small-scale mining has been helping residents of Barangay Ampucao put food on their table. Tales of instant fortune from successful miners have drawn them to believe that, indeed, gold can be the answer to their prayers.

Yet despite their persistence and hard work, most of these miners have remained poor due to income instability. Some of them couldn’t find anything valuable for weeks and even months, leaving them in huge debt.

"Sa small-scale mining kapag may natamaan kang high grade, puwede. Kapag wala kang natamaan, wala din. Swertehan talaga," said Macario, who has been mining since he was 22.

A father of three, Macario told ABS-CBN News that there were times when he came home after days of mining with nothing in his pocket. In a small hole, he had to compete with at least 20 men who, just like him, have families to feed.

Apart from the instability of his work, Macario was also concerned about his personal safety since mining operations are risky. In some cases, miners are trapped inside a man-made hole.

"Ang talagang pinaka mahirap doon ay kapag gumuho 'yong bundok at walang timber, 'yon ang delikado. Talagang malalaglag 'yong mga bato kaya delikado ka sa loob," he said.

So when the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) imposed strict regulations on mining, Macario decided to come out of the dark, narrow hole for good.

But just like all responsible breadwinners, Macario did not quit his livelihood without a backup plan.

From mining gold dusts, Macario shifted to guiding tourists to Mount Ulap — the mountain where he used to play when he was a kid. With each climb, he receives a flat fee of P600 — quite small compared to the promise of instant fortune that mining promises.

"Sa pagga-guide, siguradong mayroon kang income kahit maliit. Kasi sa pagmimina hindi mo naman alam kahit abante ka ng abante, wala ring kasiguraduhan. Ito, kahit dalawang beses lang sa isang linggo, at least sigurado na 'yon na may pang-asukal na," he said, adding that even his family is prouder of him now.

According to the DENR, there are approximately 25,000 small-scale mining operations in Benguet alone. Secretary Gina Lopez has emphasized that all small-scale mining activities operating outside the Minahang Bayan are illegal in nature.

• DENR's Lopez: Gov't stand on mining is non-negotiable

Like Macario, Fernando, 26, also used to work in small-scale mining. He has also decided to quit and work as an Ulap guide due to his deteriorating health, which is triggered by constant fatigue.

“Pahinga muna dahil bugbog lagi ang katawan,” he said. “Dito [Mt. Ulap], maganda naman kasi kahit bugbog ehersisyo mo na rin. Nakakatulong na rin ako sa kalikasan, ganu’n, nakikipagkaibigan sa mga turista.”

Fernando wonders sometimes whether he made the right decision. Now that his parents are getting older, he would need a better income to support them.

"Puwede siguro kung araw-araw na may akyat, kahit huwag ka nang maghanap ng iba, dito na lang," he said.

About 200 Ampucao residents currently rely on guiding tourists for their income. Due to their number, most of the guides only get to climb three times a week, earning P1,800.

While many left their jobs to become full-time tour guides, Emilio, 21, said he saw a business opportunity when tourists started coming in.

Emilio was also in his mid-teens when he was introduced to mining by his own uncles. Since he was eager to study, he took the risky job and save money to enrol in a B.S. Criminology program. “Noon, nagmimina ako. Kapag naka-ipon na ako, mag-aaral ako. Pahinto-hinto lang," he said.

The aspiring police officer had no idea that he would be hooked to business, until one of his uncles asked him to invest in a sari-sari store. With the help of his relatives, Emilio was able to raise P25,000 — enough to buy basic supplies, such as trail food, snacks, and beverages.

Although managing a sari-sari store will not immediately give him the money he needs to go back to school, the young entrepreneur said he is willing to wait as long as his income is stable. "Dito, kahit konti-konti, at least mayroon siguradong pera," he said.

Meanwhile, supporting his education is also the reason why Ludel, 19, decided to sign up as a mountain guide. An aspiring teacher, Ludel is currently taking up Bachelor of Physical Education at Benguet State University in La Trinidad.

Travelling from Barangay Ampucao to the provincial capital of La Trinidad takes around one to two hours, depending on the flow of traffic. That’s why Ludel is renting, four days a week, from Monday to Thursday.

On weekends, Ludel moonlights as a tourist guide, just like his father. “Maganda ito kasi kapag walang pasok, nakakapag-guide ka, at may income ka,” he said.

Ludel and other registered guides of Ampucao have all undergone tour-guiding workshops facilitated by the local government and some private organizations. The guides are also working on improving the trails by putting up pathways and improvised stairs on steep areas.

The local government, on the other hand, has required some of their barangay officers and volunteers to undergo emergency response and risk-reduction seminars. On February 4, the LGU issued an advisory, announcing that it is limiting the allowed number of hikers to 150 on weekdays and 500 on weekends and holidays.

According to Brent, one of the senior tourist guides of Ampucao who used to work in small-scale mining, this is the barangay council’s way of regulating the waste that tourists leave behind. They often see candy wrappers, plastic bottles, and used tissue papers along the trail.

“Mayroong pasaway na turista. Hindi nila nire-respeto 'yong mga rules dito sa barangay pati doon sa bundok," he said. “Kahit maliit na candy wrapper or maliit na plastic bag man 'yan, basura pa rin 'yan.”

Brent advises tourists to keep their trash in their bags, and try not to disturb the ecosystem. He also asks them to always listen to their guides to avoid accidents, which may lead to the closure of the ecotrail.

“Karamihan sa mga tour guides namin ay may pamilya na or single parent. They need this job,” he emphasized.

• READ: 5 reasons why people hike to Mount Ulap

Brent, Macario, Fernando, Emilio and all those who shifted from small-scale mining to tour guiding have just found a bit gold at 1,846 meters above sea level-- in a mountain that once served as nothing more than a wide pasture for highland cattle.