Environmental advocates pushing for ecotourism investments

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Philippines  – Environmental advocates are pushing for ecotourism investments as an alternative to mining operations in the country.

Regina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan, said ecotourism provides more employment opportunities to local communities than mining.

Citing recent data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Lopez said mining employs only 0.36 percent of Filipinos or about 199,000 compared to the agriculture sector which provides jobs to 14 percent or 12 million.

“It (ecotourism) is the way to go,” Lopez told The STAR on the sidelines of the 3rd Go Green Cebu Fair held at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa here.

Lopez was one of the speakers at the 3rd Go Green Cebu Fair organized by Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa.

“When they mine, everybody suffers,” Lopez said, adding that mining operations do not only damage the environment but also cause serious harm to the health of the residents.

Lopez said she invested some P1.5 million on ecotourism projects in five communities in Puerto Princesa four years ago.

“On the second year, I have already recovered my investments,” she said.

Lopez said they have five projects in Puerto Princesa. These are the Ugong Rock, Bacungan River Cruise, Pambato Reef Dalubkaragatan, dolphin- and whale-watching tours in Puerto Princesa Bay and firefly watching in Iwahig.

“For example, Ugong Rock workers get a monthly salary of P15, 000, this is more sustainable than mining,” she said.

Carlos Libosada Jr., author of a book on sustainable ecotourism and also a speaker at the event, said ecotourism projects do not require huge investments.

“Public awareness (on ecotourism) must be high and there must be local champions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lopez cited a recent study done by Prof. Arsenio Balisacan, dean of the University of the Philippines’ School of Economics, which showed that mining areas have higher incidence of poverty than agricultural areas.

The study found that poverty incidence in agricultural areas in the country went down from 56.33 percent in 1988 to 47.92 percent in 2009, Lopez said.

In mining areas, poverty incidences shot up to 48.71 percent in 2009 from 27.84 percent in 1988, she said.

Lopez has launched a nationwide anti-mining campaign in Palawan following the death of broadcaster Gerry Ortega, a known anti-mining advocate in the province, early this year.

Lopez said they aim to collect 10 million signatures to stop mining in Palawan.

She said a total of 3,200,000 signatures have been gathered so far and she aims to collect five million signatures by next year.

Lopez said her experience with signature campaigns, particularly with getting the Clear Air Act passed in 1999, has been very positive.

With the theme, “Green on the Go,” the annual Go Green Cebu Fair was aimed at gathering stakeholders from all sectors in a comprehensive conference to discuss sustainable practices that mitigate the environmental impact of individual and corporate actions.

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa has been recognized for its environmental initiatives, having twice won the ASEAN Green Hotel award.

“Sustainable practices are not limited to big business. Everyone can contribute to the green cause,” said Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa general manager Joachim Schutte.