DOT approves environmental indicators to accreditation requirements

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is imposing mandatory environmental indicators in the accreditation of tourism establishments in Boracay.

Tourism Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr. said in accrediting tourism establishments, DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat approved the imposition of mandatory environmental indicators or parameters.

Boncato said they are eyeing to have indicators in the accreditation of tourism establishments all over the country.

“Some of these environmental indicators (are)...instead of using sachets for shampoos, they will have to shift to, like, bulk dispensers. Single use plastic bottles are going to be discouraged,” Boncato said.

“We have to go back to the basics like using refillable glass bottles in bedrooms. The type of linen that we use in so on and so forth,” he added.

Boncato also emphasized the DOT only accredits establishments in Boracay that have complied with the permits and clearances of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The DOT earlier released an initial list of 25 accommodation establishments with a total of 2,063 rooms certified compliant with the requirements of the Boracay inter-agency task force and can begin operations when the resort island starts receiving visitors during its soft opening on Oct. 26.

Boncato said the implementation of environmental indicators is in line with Puyat’s push for creating a culture of sustainable tourism.

Boncato added Boracay is just the beginning of the mandatory implementation of environmental indicators, as the DOT seeks to set this requirement for the accreditation of tourism establishments in other destinations.

“That is the direction we want to take. The secretary wants that Boracay is only the pilot and as we continue identifying destinations that would require some sort of guidance and regulations, we would also implement it,” Boncato said.

“It’s going to be something that we will implement for specific destinations initially, but of course the objective is to make it a national requirement,” he added.

By the time this indicator becomes a national requirement, existing DOTaccredited establishments will have to comply.

“I know, it’s some sort of an investment and we are asking so many things to change in terms of operations. So we will give them ample time to change the system like from changing sachets to bulk dispensers, we will give them enough time to comply,” Boncato said but declined to give a specific implementation timeline.

He added this is part of the DOT’s constant push for innovating its requirements for tourism establishments.

Last week, the DOT continued its push towards sustainable tourism with the awarding of the first batch of awardees of a new green certification program funded by the European Union.

Some 27 hotels and resorts were awarded with the Anahaw Philippines sustainable tourism certification, which aims to reduce carbon emission impacts of tourism activities and contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.

The project is part of the EU’s Zero Carbon Resorts (ZCR) initiative.

The Anahaw certification empowers hotels and resorts with innovations and techniques that help them to save energy, water, fuel and other resources, reduce waste and carbon emission, and improve their overall operational efficiency.

The certification is for accommodation establishments in the Philippines that want to enhance their establishment’s brand image and gain competitive advantage as well as reduce operational costs and boost revenues by attracting a new market of green tourists and travelers.

Boncato earlier said the awarding of the first batch of Anahaw certifications as one of the crucial steps in sustainable tourism.

“We feel that the Boracay rehab and the Anahaw Philippines sustainable tourism certification are just a few of perfect catalysts to our national awakening and deeper appreciation of values of sustainable tourism,” Boncato said.

Boncato described sustainable tourism as the kind that takes into consideration the current and future economic and social and environmental impact, bearing in mind the best interest of tourists, industry stakeholders, the environment and host community.

“We expect a great movement, seamless convergence and rapid conversion to our change in paradigm that tourism should always take the backseat when the health of nature and the environment is at stake,” he said.

Anticipating the Oct. 26 re-opening of resort island Boracay, the DOT has released an initial list of 25 accommodation establishments with a total of 2,063 rooms that are certified compliant with the requirements of the Boracay inter-agency task force and can begin operations when the island begins receiving visitors next month.