Prioritizing green tourism
PANGLAO ISLAND, Bohol — This tropical paradise is experiencing an economic boom, driven primarily by the tourism industry after the November 2018 opening of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA), which replaced the old domestic airport in Tagbilaran City.
Connecting the island of Panglao to Bohol’s provincial capital Tagbilaran are two bridges similar in terms of distance to the causeway between Singapore and Sentosa Island. Both are shorter than the bridges that connect Mactan Island to Cebu City, which is just two hours away from Tagbilaran’s port via regular ferryboat trips.
BPIA was funded mostly by official development assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to the tune of P5.9 billion and constructed by a Japanese consortium between Mitsubishi Corp. and Chiyoda Corp. It is billed as the first “eco-airport” in the Philippines featuring solar-powered airconditioning and energy-saving photovoltaic power generation system.
One of the main factors that led to the decision regarding the new airport’s location is its proximity to Alona Beach, the central tourist area of Panglao famous for its white sand, coral reef, and rocky cliffs.
Buses ply the route between the airport and the beach, taking less than 10 minutes at minimal cost.
Alona Beach has undergone a massive transformation over the past two years, starting with the removal of dining tables, sun beds, and overhanging canopies along the beach pathway, followed by the demolition of concrete terraces and other illegal structures built by resorts and restaurants that were encroaching on the shoreline.
But unlike the forced closure of Boracay Island for six months in 2018, Panglao remained open during the cleanup mandated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Business operators, ranging from the smallest bars and coffee shops to a huge Greek restaurant and a major resort with a beachfront swimming pool, cooperated with the DENR-led interagency task force. They voluntarily complied with the pertinent national laws and local ordinances even if the consequence was losing their candle-lit evening dinner crowd due to the regulations now being enforced.
About 30 minutes by motorized banca from Panglao is the popular marine sanctuary and diving spot, Balicasag Island. Local authorities have implemented a limit on the number of divers there to protect Balicasag’s biodiversity from over-diving.
Panglao’s stakeholders are pushing for sustainable tourism as exemplified by their “green” airport and ecological beaches. It would be interesting to see how the surge in tourist arrivals will affect the island in the next five years. Can the local government unit strike a balance between the financial influx and the fragile natural environment?
CSR IN TIMES OF DISASTER
In the aftermath of Taal Volcano’s sudden eruption, the business community has joined hands with government agencies and civil society in conducting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to alleviate the plight of thousands affected by the ashfall and subsequent evacuation.
The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) went to the extent of canceling its 2020 induction ceremonies and inaugural meeting originally scheduled last Jan. 14 at the National Museum of Natural History.
FINEX President Jose Jerome “Jeng ” Pascual III said: “Instead, we will be donating the funds allocated for the event toward the relief efforts for Taal volcano evacuees. We have selected the
Philippine Disaster Relief Foundation as the main channel of our aid and support for those afflicted by the ongoing restlessness of Taal.”
In Tagaytay City, the Antonio’s Group of Restaurants (AGR) harnessed the staff of its kitchens and bakeries to prepare meals for AGR’s evacuated neighbors as well as distribute clothes, blankets, and mats to sleep on for over 1,800 families that have been displaced by the disaster. According to chef-owner Antonio “Tonyboy” Escalante, “this is the time when real and genuine hospitality is needed.”
Such CSR efforts and other acts of solidarity by millions of Filipinos only prove that the bayanihan spirit is alive and well in our nation.