Oslob dive site closed to tourists for 1 week

MANILA, Philippines — The sandbar and dive site on Sumilon island in Oslob, Cebu will be closed to tourists for cleanup starting today ahead of Boracay’s closure for six months.

Oslob Mayor Jun Tumulak said around 200 municipal government employees, Navy and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel as well as volunteers would conduct cleanup activities for one week.

Tumulak said PCG and Navy personnel would take charge of picking up garbage under the water.

He said consultations with stakeholders would be conducted to come up with measures to protect the tourist destination.

Tumulak said the municipal council plans to pass an ordinance for the closure of the sandbar and dive site every three months.

“Our aim for the closure is not just the cleanup but also to allow nature to breathe,” he said.

A study showed that the Sumilon sandbar can accommodate only 522 persons a day, but the average daily traffic is almost four times its capacity.

Tumulak said they are also eyeing a zoning ordinance or the designation of specific areas as gateways to the sandbar.

The Department of Tourism-Central Visayas recommended the measure during a recent meeting with the provincial tourism council, saying it would help in monitoring the activities and ensure the safety of guests.

Cebu is bracing for the influx of tourists with Boracay’s impending closure for rehabilitation.

Lt. Gen. Paul Talay Atal, Central Command chief, said the military conducted a capability demonstration on the shores of Oslob over the weekend in preparation for the surge in tourist arrivals.

Oslob is famous for its dive sites, beaches and whale shark interaction. - Jean Marvette Demecillo / The Freeman