Group pushes Ga-as as ecotourism zone

CEBU, Philippines - A group of Cebuano businessmen is reviving its plan to push some part of Ga-as, Balamban in the western part of Cebu to be declared as Eco-Tourism Zone of Cebu.

Led by business leader Edwin Ortiz, who also owns the Adventure Cafe at the area, the Ga-as-Manunggal Eco-Tourism Group wants the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Protected Area Management Board to immediately identify the protected sites in the barangay so they could pursue their plans.

"There are a lot of things we want to do there. But, we cannot start unless the DENR-PAMB will identify which part is protected," said Ortiz who is also a trustee of the Department of Tourism Promotions Board.

Aside from Ortiz's Adventure Cafe, which offers zip-line facility and other adventure activities, the barangay also hosts other adventure related and mountain resort facilities, like the West 35, among others.

According to Ortiz, there are a lot of eco-tourism related activities that can be capitalized in the Cebu highlands, he mentioned the availability of mini waterfalls, caves, flower and vegetable plantations.

Ortiz said now that eco-tourism is part of DOT's thrust for development, being dubbed as the new agriculture, equal support should be given to concerned agencies like the DENR to encourage the business sector to put in capital in development of this emerging tourism product in the Philippines.

There are areas in the highlands of Busay going to Balamban that have potential for eco-tourism developments, however he said some of the lands are still questionable.

If approved, the eco-tourism zone will make the mountain barangays, specifically in Ga-as much alive, as this is seen to grab the attention of both local and international tourists as well as encourage more capitalists to put in their investments in this concept.

Part of the group's plan is to make an integrated eco-tourism destination within Ga-as and neighboring barangays to provide diverse attractions and activities such as flower plantation picking, fresh vegetable shopping, establishment of pasalubong and antique shop stores--a total tourism destination that capitalizes on eco-tourism, he said.

"We want farmers in the mountain barangays to earn more, as well as provide other residents with employment and small business opportunities," Ortiz said.

This Eco-Tourism Zone of Cebu concept was presented by the group some five years ago to the Cebu Provincial government. Although it has earned favorable interest from the province, Ortiz said the approval will depend on DENRs move to identify the questionable and protected areas.

The creation of Eco-Tourism Zone is part of the DOT Promotions Board’s thrust to accelerate the growth of eco-tourism in the country, encouraging capitalists as well as local government units to start developing eco-tourism destinations in their respective areas. (FREEMAN)