The Phillipines gets four new zip lines and ecotourism efforts continue

Image via Wikipedia

High in the hills of Floridablanca, in the Phillipines, is a blooming haven of nature and man-made structures in a domain preserved and nurtured by Aetas, an upland blend of ecological and tourism adventure that is Nabuclod.

Much has been written and heard of the once untapped spot — except maybe its people in the resettlement site — until Governor Lilia Pineda and Second District Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo teamed up to harness its potential, so indigenous people there could reap the benefits of what is now known as the Nabuclod Upland Eco-Tourism Adventure.

On dawn Saturday, the governor led the Capitol horde, along with friends and representatives from Pampanga media, in planting hundreds of trees as a prelude to her 61st birthday on February 21. The gift was meant to breathe greater life to the 5,000-hectare development project where now stand two of four zip lines and cable cars.

“By the summer season, we would have completed the zip lines as well developed a large part of Nabuclod for eco-tourism. Our desire is for it to be self-sustaining, especially its agricultural part where Aetas would be able to supply the province and even Manila with vegetables of all kinds. We are almost there,” shared Governor Pineda.

The Nabuclod Upland Eco-Tourism Adventure, she said, features two viewing decks where the splendor of Pampanga meets the eye; the thrilling zip-lines and cable cars Second District Board Member Olga Frances David-Dizon described as amazing and enjoyable; the bike and ATV [all-terrain vehicle] trail frequented now by mountain riders; the stairway to Bolben; the camping site where members of the National Movement of Young Legislators led by 3rd District Board Member Trina Dizon would pitch their tents on February 25 for their own tree planting day; the very green agri area and the proposed Grotto on the religious side.

Added 4th District Board Member Nestor Tolentino, chair of the Nabuclod Project technical working group: “This upland eco-tourism project is actually a build-operate-transfer with investors. Capitol’s expense on this is very minimal. The potential is so big that in the near future, Nabuclod would be one of the favorite tourist spots in Pampanga. The people here are assured that nothing will be destroyed and their natural environment preserved and protected.”

First District Board Member Tarcicio “Tars” DC Halili– who described his first-ever zip line ride as very good — readily agreed and noted that he will file a resolution calling for the creation of a Nabuclod Tourism Council which will complement the technical working group on the master plan.

“The Nabuclod Tourism Council could then manage the project and see to its efficient operations,” he said.

Going to the top of Nabuclod is already an adventure in itself. Along the zigzagging paved roads, Aeta kids greet and wave to passersby, welcoming them warmly into their haven. The less than hour’s drive upon entering the main street past Basa Air Base is never boring with greeneries all around and scenes of human interests, of daily life that is Nabuclod for the keen-eyed photographer.

Related articles

• “Why is Mt. Arayat called Mt. Arayat?” (thekayumanggitrails.org)
• UNDP starts eco-tourism survey on disputed isles (japantimes.co.jp)
• The State of the Himalaya (chimalaya.org)
• Pilgrim, green and eco tourism initiatives in Kottayam, Idukki districts (thehindu.com)
• Dome-Shaped Eco-Tourism Center in France is a Living Room in the Woods (inhabitat.com)

Ecotourism visits the Bataan Rainforest

Image via Wikipedia

The 218-hectare idle lot called Roosevelt Protected Landscape in Barangay Roosevelt will be developed into an Integrated Ecotourism Development project by a private investor.

Based on the Memorandum of Agreement entered into between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 3 office through the Protected Area Management Board-Roosevelt Protected Landscape (PAMB-RPLS) and Green Asia Construction and Development Corp., the 218-hectare will be developed by a private investor in order to “provide the public better and ecologically aesthetic recreational, educational and tourism- related facilities.”

The pouring in of investment by a private company, headed by Renato P. Legaspi, Sr., Green Asia president and chief executive officer, will not only create jobs for people here and additional income to government coffers but also protect the area from informal settlers.

The DENR assured that the area will be protected by Green Asia, in compliance with Republic Act 7586 or National Integrated Protected Areas Act of 1992 enacted to establish the National Integrated Protected Areas System.”

Police and local authorities , armed with an order to demolish the more or less 400 shanties and temporary houses made of light materials, cracked down on illegal settlers who occupied protected and watershed areas in Roosevelt.

In the agreement, the PAMB-RPLS and Green Asia “mutually acknowledge the vital role of ecotourism development in nation-building and mutually recognize the authority of PAMB to decide/approve matters related to the Protected Area of Management of the Roosevelt Protected Landscape.”

Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2008-26, the PAMB shall approve policies, guidelines, plans and programs, proposals and agreements for the management and protected areas. The PAMB is headed by the incumbent Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Amado Villanueva, a veteran in the region.

The Green Asia shall secure the 218 hectares and be responsible for its protection to prevent encroachment of other individuals into the protected area in accordance with the required Comprehensive Development and Management Plan.

Related articles

• [In the news] Marikina watershed declared protected area (hronlineph.com)
• [In the news] Church pushes campaign to declare Tampakan mountains as protected area – MindaNews.com (hronlineph.com)
• Ecological Restoration for Protected Areas – Comments Invited (globalrestorationnetwork.org)
• A Silent Death … (backwards222.com)
• Snorkelling from a Cruising Catamaram (kristinastanley.net)

Eastern Visayas in the Phillipines sets regional eco-tourism conference

TACLOBAN CITY — Members of the tourism industry and environment advocates in Eastern Visayas will gather here this week to draft a five-year road map for eco-tourism development.

Karina Rosa S. Tiopes, regional director of the Department of Tourism, said the road map will be the outcome of a two-day regional eco-tourism conference set for Sept. 26-27 as part of the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council week celebration.

“Compared to neighboring regions, Eastern Visayas may lag behind. But it does not mean that we have to stay that way. We have to catch up in the…tourism value chain,” Ms. Tiopes said in a press statement.

The conference is expected to draw together local chief executives, heads of local governments’ legislative committees for tourism, local tourism officers, representatives of local tourism councils and of nongovernment organizations, as well as school, military and police officials. Speakers during the conference include national and regional officials of the departments of Tourism and of Environment and Natural Resources.

Eco-tourism is a thrust under the 2011-2016 Eastern Visayas development plan, besides agribusiness and information and communication technology. “This is one of the major strategies that will serve as driving force for poverty alleviation, job creation and social harmony, without compromising sustainability and preservation,” Ms. Tiopes said

Related articles

• Next Post (sorsogoncity.wordpress.com)
• The Phillipines declares six villages as “ecotourism” zones (ecoadventuretravel.wordpress.com)
• Disaster and hazard-prone areas studied (tuklasinnatin.wordpress.com)

The Phillipines declares six villages as “ecotourism” zones

Image via Wikipedia

An author in the Phillipines, and head of the town of Nueva Vizcaya in that country, has a measure to declare six villages as eco-tourism zones.

“While our municipality is endowed with Mother Nature’s blessings such as mountains, forests, waterfalls, rivers, creeks, springs, hills, peaks and caves which are ideal for trekking, campsite and other eco-tourism destinations, there is a need to institutionalize their protection and further development for its eco-tourism potentials,” said Councilor Roland Carub, author and sponsor of the proposed measure.

The proposed ordinance which seeks to declare barangay Commonal and the Singian mountains within barangays Aggub, Bangar, Bascaran, Concepcion and Tucal as an eco-tourism zones, is set for final reading, he added.

Once approved, Carub explained that these eco-tourism zones will be opened-up for further development based on a crafted tourism development plan which shall trigger the enforcement of standards and collection of statistical data for tourism purposes.

“With this ordinance, management, conservation, development, protection, utilization and disposition of these zones will be assured, including entry of government agencies and institutions which are deemed beneficial,” he said.

These eco-tourism sites, Carub said will be opened and used for educational and scientific researches, cultural, livelihood and tourism purposes.

Any violations based on existing environmental laws and other administrative issuances requires an individual and any organizations to pay the penalties of P1,000.00 for the first offense, P2,000.00 for the second offense and P2,500.00 for the third offense.

Eco-tourism is a form of sustainable tourism within a natural and cultural heritage area where community participation, protection and management of natural resources, cultural and indigenous knowledge and practices, environmental education and ethics as well as economic benefits are fostered and pursued for the enrichment of host communities and satisfaction of visitors

Related articles

• Eco tourism in KUPPAM (Andrapradesh) (katavakar.wordpress.com)
• Tourists (enviroho.wordpress.com)
• Borneo Megadiverse Reef Set To Entice Further Eco-Tourism (prweb.com)