6 more Calabarzon ecotourism sites up for DOT accreditation

The Department of Tourism plans to accredit six more ecotourism sites in the CALABARZON region under the government’s National Ecotourism Strategy (NES) within the first quarter of 2017.

DOT Region 4a director Rebecca Villanueva- Labit told

The STAR the region is con- sidering adding six more accredited ecotourism sites into the region’s portfolio before the agency’s term as chairman of the National Ecotourism Steering Committee ends this March.

“We have five sites approved under the regional ecotourism plan, but we will be approving another six by the first quarter after our assessment,” Labit said.

The sites to be accredited include the Wawa-Pamitinan Protected Landscape in Rodriguez, Rizal; Kilangin Falls in Liliw, Laguna; Buruwisan Falls in Siniloan, Laguna; Mount Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal; Tikub Lake in Tiaong, Quezon; and the Quezon Protected Landscape in Atimonan, Quezon.

Villanueva- Labit said the accreditation of the ecotourism sites is pursuant to the provisions of the NES 2013 to 2022.

The 10- year plan, which was officially launched during the 5th World Ecotourism Conference in Cebu City in 2014, was envisioned to provide integrated mechanisms and strategies to bring together the government, private sector, local communities and the tourists to advance ecotourism’s viability and competitiveness in the Philippines.

It was formulated by the National Ecotourism Steering Committee and its regional counterparts. The DOT and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) take turns manning the council every three years.

“It is a shared responsibility between the DENR and the DOT. In March, we will be making the turn over back to DENR,” Labit said.

“So if we approve six more sites, we will be able to turn over to the DENR a total of 11 ecotourism sites, all compliant to the provisions of the NES,” she added.

The five ecotourism sites approved by the Regional Ecotourism Committee of CALABARZON include Masungi Karst in Tanay Rizal; Pansipit River and Volcano Island Bird Sanctuary in San Nicolas, Batangas; Mount Makiling Forest Reserve in Los Banos, Laguna; Tayak Nature and Wildlife Park in Rizal, Laguna; and the Lobo Agro Ecotourism Site in Lobo, Batangas.

Labit also highlighted the role of ecotourism to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth in the country.

“Ecotourism is very inclusive. You develop the community, protect the natural environment, provide livelihood, sustainable source of income, and immediately, that community becomes the vanguards of the environment,” she said.