The House of Representatives has approved on third reading House Bill No. 9512, authored by Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, seeking to recognize the centuries-old Dao Tree in Malasag, Barangay Cugman, as Cagayan de Oro’s Heritage Tree and a tourist attraction. Estimated to be more than 300 years old and standing about 49 meters tall, the tree is considered one of the largest and oldest Dao trees in the Philippines. The bill, now transmitted to the Senate, also proposes measures to protect and preserve the tree while developing appropriate tourism facilities around the site. A ₱25-million access road leading to the Dao Tree was completed in September 2025.
