Forest reserve to become vendors' area?

LOBOC, BOHOL, Philippines  – Notwithstanding the ban on vending of various items and food at the Loboc Watershed Forest Reserve (LWFR) in this town, the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) had given the go-signal instead for vendors to continue their trade in the area.

This decision came out during the recent PAMB meeting that tackled the proposed Loboc Municipal Tourism Development Plan, as presented by tourism officer Teodosia Bernaldez, transforming a portion of the most visited man-made forest in Bohol into a vending place for food and souvenir items for passersby and tourists.

Vendors in the area of the man-made forest, bordering the towns of Bilar and Loboc, have been plying their trade without permits since and the PAMB saw a solution by allowing their enterprise for as long as they follow the regulations imposed on them.

The PAMB plan, if realized, would turn the man-made forest into a shopping area, along with the construction of souvenir shops, a food court; comfort rooms and parking area. Also included will be tree planting activities by the vendors and the local government, as well as the adopt-a-tree program for the visitors.

Loboc is expecting that the plan would generate civic involvement, revenues to LGU coffers and improvement of environmental management, awareness, protection and preservation. The shopping area will be co-managed by the PAMB and Loboc LGU.

Foreign and local tourists however commented to The FREEMAN that vending at protected areas, such as the LWFR, could open the floodgates of destruction and such activity runs counter to eco-tourism in the area.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Nestor Canda, in his letter to Mayors Norman Palacio of Bilar and Leon Calipusan of Loboc, said ambulant vending within the LWRF area “was criticized as an eyesore to tourists who drop or pass by the man-made forest.”

Canda had requested the mayors to stop the vendors there but there has been no favorable response so far. Vending “is not yet compatible to what the policies of PAMB and Republic Act 7586, or the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS) Act,” he said

Section 20 of the NIPAS law states: “Constructing or maintaining any kind of structure, fence, or enclosures, conducting any business enterprise without a permit” is banned, and that violations carry the penalty of a minimum fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of up to six years, as determined by the court.

The PAMB had approved the recommendation of Perfecto Bambe, reportedly a representative of Mayor Palacio, endorsing measures for the vendors to follow: The PAMB shall managed the vendors who will provide for their own tables to display their wares, stay in a permanent place instead of ambulant peddling, maintain cleanliness and sell only souvenir items.

Mayor Calipusan, for his part, told the PAMB that his administration has been concerned over the vendors within the forest reserve because most of them are from his town of Loboc. He asked the Bernaldez to come up with a win-win solution between the stakeholders and the LGU, and this prompted her to present the tourism plan allowing vending in the area.  (FREEMAN)