RDC-7 supports Oslob whale feeding

CEBU, Philippines - While the Regional Development Council in Bicol wants to stop the whale shark interaction in Oslob, its counterpart in Central Visayas is supporting the activity.

The RDC-7, in its full council meeting yesterday, approved the recommendation of the Economic Development Committee to continue the project while possible impact is being studied by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Oslob Mayor Ronald Guarin was invited to attend the meeting to answer possible queries from the members.

But when EDC chairperson Robert Go presented the recommendation, there was no discussion made prompting RDC chairman, Cebu City Michael Rama, to declare it approved and their position will be submitted to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Rama agreed that the activity is helping the tourism industry in Oslob.

"You cannot just pursue drastic moves especially that it has created economic attraction and tourist attraction," said Rama.

Guarin said it is a welcome development, especially to the fishermen who now rely on whale shark interaction as their livelihood.

Guarin said that the project has helped families of fisherfolks to earn more income.

He told the Bicol officials to look at the positive impact the activity has brought to the community.  He also stressed that before the whale shark interaction became popular, they have already developed their tourism potentials.

RDC Bicol chairman, Albay Governor Joey Salceda, earlier wrote to the Office of the Secretary of the DOT requesting support for its position to stop the feeding of whale sharks in Oslob.

They expressed concern that the activity might hurt the good practice of the Donsol, Sorsogon whale shark project.

The whale shark interaction in Oslob is managed by a cooperative of local fisherfolk that had, from January to September 2012, generated significant ecotourism-based income of P35 million.

That enabled its members to improve their quality of life and the Oslob local government unit reportedly got a 30 percent share of the income, which was used to improve the delivery of economic and social services to the community.

In a meeting of the EDC last month, the BFAR presented the highlights of the joint DENR-BFAR7-Physalus study.

The study shows that the whale sharks in Oslob are juveniles and not the nine-meter.

The 25 to 30 years old whale sharks are usually sighted in Donsol, Sorsogon.

The study also shows that the biomass of marine life increased in the interaction area, which has become a de facto marine sanctuary when fishing activities were stopped to pave the way for the whale shark interaction.

The BFAR will continue to conduct further studies on the effect of feeding activities on the habits and behavior of whale sharks.

In the meantime, it recommends regular monitoring and strict implementation of guidelines and regulations for the conduct of whale shark-related activities in Oslob until conclusive evidence has been gathered to prove that these activities are harmful to the whale sharks.

The EDC also formed a convergence group composed of the Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cooperative Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency and the LGU of Oslob.

The group is also conducting study on the social, economic, environmental and ecological impacts of the whale shark interaction activities in Oslob, and to assist the LGU and the cooperative in the management of the project.  (FREEMAN)