Carrying capacity for Kanlaob River canyoneering set

CEBU, Philippines - Taking into consideration the human-ecosystem equilibrium and the impact on the environment, Kanlaob River's carrying capacity for canyoneering activity is set at 300 persons per day on weekdays and 400 persons on weekends and holidays.

Also, it will be closed to tourists every first and third Monday of the month to "protect the canyoneering site and promote sustainability."

This, after authorities found out that it exceeds the required number of tourists, which may result to the canyon's eventual destruction.

The river, which traverses Barangay Compostela in Alegria and Barangay Matutinao in Badian, has become popular among adrenaline junkies for its canyoneering activity.

The municipalities of Alegria and Badian are required to equally divide the number of tourists in the site which should not exceed the allowed carrying capacity.

These are among the rules the newly-created Alegria-Badian River Tourism Committee will oversee to ensure their strict implementation.

Governor Hilario Davide III issued Executive Order No. 21 for the creation of the said committee, which is composed of the Provincial Tourism Officer as the head, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer and Provincial Health Officer as members. The EO was signed and implemented on November 5.

"The provincial government, consistent with its mandate as a supervisory authority over component cities and municipalities in the province, sees the need to exercise advisory and coordinating functions in the management and operation of the Alegria-Badian River Tourism with the end view of developing tourism in the Alegria-Badian river system and promoting natural cooperation and collaboration between the municipalities of Alegria and Badian, their local officials and residents," read the EO.

The carrying capacity and mandatory closure schedule will be subject to review from time to time by the committee and may be further amended.

The tourism offices of Alegria and Badian, on the other hand, can impose appropriate sanctions against those found violating the said provision.

The EO mandates the local government units to adopt and promote "single holiday, single destination type of tourism" for canyoneering tour through the use of "single entrance and exit at Compostela, Alegria and Kawasan."

"This is to better manage the Alegria-Badian river tourism, promote sustainability, protect the water resource, and minimize the negative impact on the river, wildlife, vegetation and soil, the two municipalities shall adopt and promote this single holiday and destination," the EO reads.

Aside from overseeing the canyoneering operations and regulations, the committee is also tasked to perform "support, coordination and advisory functions in the development and management of tourism" in the towns, as well in the formulation and enforcement of policies for safe and sustainable eco-tourism.

The committee will help formulate provincial, municipal and barangay level strategies for sustainable tourism and river development, including visitor education and management, health and safety, water resources conservation and management, infrastructure development, monitoring and evaluation.

It will also assist in promoting regulatory mechanism and economic instruments for tourism management plan and promotion to address environmental sustainability; promote sustainable tourism; implement education and awareness programs to promote community participation; among others.

The committee and the tourism officers of Alegria and Badian are required to convene once a month or as the need arises and to report to the governor.

Davide said the province echoes the declaration of the United Nations that water is a transboundary resource and the transboundary impacts and conflicting interests can best be solved by "cooperation, adequate legal and institutional frameworks, joint approaches to planning and sharing of benefits and related costs."

"The provincial government echoes the declaration of the United Nations and desires sound management and peaceful sharing of the water resource in Alegria and Badian and regional peace, security, economic and tourism growth in the two municipalities," he said.

It can be recalled that the relationship between the two towns has recently turned sour because of encroachment disputes over Kanlaob River. (FREEMAN)