Creation of save-Bohol tourism body pushed
TAGBILARAN CITY – A former Bohol provincial board member is calling on the local government units in the province to work with tourism stakeholders in organizing a Save Bohol Tourism Body (SBTB) to protect local tourism destinations, particularly in Panglao Island, from degradation.
Joseph G. Sevilla is the principal author of the Panglao Island Tourism Estate (PITE) and Provincial Bantay Dagat ordinances and other related tourism and environmental measures.
Sevilla told Manila Bulletin that Bohol “might lose our crown jewel in local tourism industry like what happened to Boracay and other tourism destinations.”
He forwarded his proposal to Board Member Alexie B. Tutor who chairs the board’s committee on tourism.
The proliferation of illegal tourism structures and improper waste disposal had affected the local tourism industry, threatened Bohol’s corals and marine biodiversity particularly the world renowned diving site in Balicasag Island, he said.
Aside from the tourism department and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Sevilla also asked the military to pitch in, considering that Balicasag in Panglao town is a military reservation.
Sevilla, who is the president of a security agencies group in the province, added that the provincial government should respond with a sense of urgency to President Duterte’s directives in solving tourism environmental problems.
"There is a need to review our existing Tourism Development Master Plan, regulating and maximizing the land use, water, power and drainage systems, manpower skills development and livelihood programs, integrated island security, environmental protection and others, Sevilla said.
He said the LGUs defaulted or failed to execute fully the mandates of national and provincial tourism and environment measures as early in 1980s. The LGUs failed to build access roads leading to beach areas and declare fish sanctuaries, Sevilla said.
He pointed out that the late Anos Fonacier of the Bohol Beach Club was the first tourism investor to build a private road and free public beach adjacent to his resort.