Tulapos, another of Siquijor’s mysteries

Magical, mysterious, enchanted, mystifying. The is how many people all over the country view the island of Siquijor. Add black magic, witchcraft and love potion, and many shiver with fright just thinking about it.

Siquijor’s secret is not about legendary stories but the warm inhabitants who welcome visitors with an open heart and the beautiful landscape teeming with marine country.

That is how Siquijor attracts visitors.

Tulapos is located in the municipality of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor, only a kilometer from the town center. It has a population of 767. The tophographic terrains is characterized by rolling hills in the western portion, while flat to rolling in the east provides the site a distinctively beautiful landscape.

The most fascinating feature of Tulapos is its sprawling white sand beaches. Despite this beautiful landscape, life is very challenging in this area. Farming is not advisable due to inhospitable land which is rocky and sandy. The villagers are engaged in fishing and related activities.

In this barangay you can find the Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, an area set aside by the government. Fishing and other related activities are strictly prohibited.

The Tulapos Marine Sanctuary was first established in 1986 through the Central Visayas Regional Project (CVRP). When the protect ended in 1990, the management of the sanctuary was turned over to the municipal government of Enrique Villanueva. During their time the sanctuary was neglected.

Rogelio Salindo the first president of the only people’s organization in the area with the help of the community continued with the protection of the sanctuary.

In 1994, the marine sanctuary was again reinvigorated through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s Coastal Environment Program (CEP). Soon it was selected as a model site for CEP. It has an initial area of 13.45 hectares and 26 households directly benefiting from it.

The DENR embarked on a barangay-wide information campaign to encourage the fishermen to be involved once again in the revitalization of the sanctuary, stressing the importance of the marine sanctuary to improve their lot from increased income from fishing and eco-tourism.

With DENR’s help, the Tulapos Fishermen’s Association reorganized themselves into the Tulapos United Fishermen’s Association which paved the way for the organization of a separate association of mangrove growers and the designation of fish wardens. All organizations work together for the protection of the sanctuary.

The DENR intensified capacity building involving the people in Tulapos who directly benefited from the sanctuary. Women were taught to develop alternative livelihood that will help boost their income. They were taught to run a cooperative, catering services and goat raising to prepare them when fish catch is low. The small fisherfolk were also taught and trained on sustainable ways of fishing like "bobo" fishing.

"Bobo" is a fish trap made of bamboo. It has an average size of 5 meters length, and 4 meters wide. The device serves as an artificial reef for the fishes. It is lowered to 40 feet deep and harvested after a month. However, bobo fishing is allowed only outside the sanctuary.

After years of hard work, the people of Tulapos soon experienced a change in their lives. The low fish catch slowly became bigger, from three kilos catch per day years before the sanctuary was established to 50 to 60 kilos catch per day, or an average daily income of Php 2,000.00.

Proof of this starting development are the children who are now back to school. Mr. Salindo, for example, has 11 children who all finished college. He boasts that those are the fruits of his patience and hardwork. He says that through fishing he was able to fulfill his obligations to his children. Right now, he is concentrating on the renovation of his house in time for the graduation of his youngest daughter from college.

Based on the latest study conducted by the DENR, fish population in Tulapos has increased. The highest fish population recorded were in 1998 and 2000 with an average of 72 individual fish per meter squared and 70 individual fish/meter squared, respectively. The result reinforces the fisherfolk’s claim their income increased after the sanctuary was revitalized.

The revitalization of the sanctuary showed that the number of live coral has increased. In 2000, DENR recorded the highest number of live coral cover. Due to non-disturbance of the sanctuary, the Tulapos coral cover has improved considerably.

The sanctuary has also proven its stable condition considering the number of fish species found in the area. Seagrasses are now also in the growing in the area.

The villagers observed an increasing number of species in Tulapos after the sanctuary’s establishment. Also, they started of Tulapos, together with the partner agencies, BFAR, local government units, and the DENR, expanded the sanctuary to 24 hectares from the original 13 hectares.

The experience taught the villagers the importance of protecting the marine life. In fact, they are now planning to expand the present area to 34 hectares because of the many benefits the villagers are now enjoying.

Today, the people enjoy a better life and have become more vigilant in their watch so that no would-be poachers or illegal fishermen could enter and destroy their sanctuary. Together, they affirmed "This is our life, our future, we will protect the sanctuary at all cost." (APS)