Gov't sets rules for ecotourism activities

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government has come up with a set of guidelines for planning and managing of ecotourism activities within nationally designated protected areas, a senior government official said here today.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2013-19 to support conservation efforts and sustainable use of natural resources in protected areas that have tremendous potential for ecotourism development.

"Ecotourism activities properly planned and managed would promote and guarantee the conservation and sustainable use of all biodiversity found within," Paje said.

Protected areas, now numbering 240 nationwide, are defined as "portions of land and water set aside for their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biodiversity and protected against destructive human exploitation" as defined under the Philippines' National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992.

Areas with ecotourism potential may refer to terrestrial, coastal or marine, caves, and wetland ecosystems.

According to Paje, other laws such as the Tourism Act and the Magna Carta for Women have been considered in the crafting of the DAO to ensure that activities within protected areas would be consistent with ecotourism principles.