New DENR order out

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources  has issued a new order supporting the conservation efforts and sustainable use of natural resources in protected areas with tremendous potential for ecotourism development.

DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo in a statement said that  Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje approved the Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2013-19 last July 1, 2013.

The order sets guidelines for planning and managing of ecotourism activities within nationally designated protected areas.

“As explained by Secretary Paje, the DAO institutionalizes the entire process of developing ecotourism within our protected areas, applies its concepts and principles, and ensures equal participation and benefits among the community members and other stakeholders,” Montejo said.

Protected areas, now numbering 240 nationwide with 24 in region 7, 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.”

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

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

The DAO covers the various phases in the ecotourism planning and management process, including site assessment that will determine whether ecotourism management is the right strategy for a particular protected area.

DENR-7 spokesperson Ed Llamedo also said that the data will be used by the Protected Area Superintendent in preparing the corresponding Ecotourism Management Plan (EMP) to involve stakeholders like local government unit (LGUs), the community, people's organizations and other government agencies.

Llamedo said the implementation phase will be in accordance with all timelines, arrangements and budget provided in the EMP.

All enterprises, meanwhile, will follow a business plan prepared by the LGUs or a partner from the private sector, he said.

All plans will be reviewed by the Regional Ecotourism Committee and subsequently approved by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).

The entire process, from the preliminary site evaluation to the preparation of business plans, is expected to take at least 10 months. (FREEMAN)