‘Wildlife festival’ to highlight Lapu-Lapu eco-tourism edge
In its bid to boost its eco-tourism edge, the Lapu-Lapu City government is set to launch a “Wildlife Festival” next year.
This was announced by LapuLapu City Tourism officer Hembler Mendoza, on the sidelines of the introduction of the city's first coffee table book on history and heritage dubbed as “Taytayan”.
According to Mendoza his team, together with other agencies, have already done the inventory of wild animals, like the migratory birds in Olango Island, and marine resources within the island and formalize the project proposal to be submitted to Mayor Paz Radaza.
Along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other agencies, Lapu-Lapu will officially kickoff its eco-tourism campaign by holding the festival.
Communities within the concerned barangays will also be trained on how to properly manage a delicate attraction, which concerns the environment and wildlife preservation.
Olango Island known as the sanctuary of at least 47 bird species from all over the world, like from Australia and New Zealand, will be the forefront of the festival, Mendoza said.
Olango is home to multi-national birds that have migrated due to winter and other disturbances in their habitat. These migrant birds had been the major attraction of the island over the years, aside from its beaches.
While environmental and wildlife preservation programs are currently being implemented, these needs to be strengthened, and awareness the community should be property disseminated, and every resident on the island should understand the importance of preserving the environment, maintaining the biodiversity of the place, so the birds will continue to migrate especially beginning the months of September to March.
The Wild Life Festival slated on October, Mendoza said also aims to elevate the level of awareness in the community because currently residents' level of realization is not yet acceptable.
Aside from street dancing that will depict the island's wealth in environment and sustained biodiversity, the festival will also highlight different fora to educate the residents on the proper management of the Island.
Olango Island is one of the major eco-tourism jewels of Cebu. Tourists both domestic and foreign markets are now starting to shift their interest in eco-tourism destinations, the reason why the Philippines, through the Department of Tourism is pushing the development eco-tourism destinations in the country, in close coordination with DENR.
The concept of eco-tourism based on the UNWTO, is heavily focused on involving the community in the development of tourism. Promoting eco-tourism more than a product and more on supporting the local economy and generate income and open up job opportunities.