DoT Chief inspects El Nido rehab progress
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2019 16:26:36 +0000
In 2018, the rehabilitation of El Nido was initiated due to unsustainable tourism practices and ecological degradation, thereby enjoining stakeholders to implement the laws and undertake immediate recourse to save the tourist spot from further deterioration.
During her recent inspection of the town, the DoT Chief observed that the municipal and provincial government is progressively building a sewage and solid waste treatment plant, and that owners of structures violating the proper easement zones along the shorelines are already self-demolishing.
The DoT Chief shared: “The tourism industry of El Nido has been thriving for so long, so I’m happy to see this progress in the sewage and solid waste management facilities. We want our tourists to feel clean and safe when they visit our country.” In all tourism sites, sewage and solid waste treatment plants and other infrastructures are needed to secure the welfare of the environment and the industry in the years ahead.
According to the DoT Chief, the rehabilitation of tourism sites is being simultaneously implemented by the triumvirate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DoT in various destinations. Several initiatives are now in place to instill sustainable development in Boracay Island, Cebu, Coron Island, Davao City, Panglao Island in Bohol, Samal Island, Siargao, and Siquijor.
The DoT envisions sustainable tourism development to ensure that the Philippines is #MoreFunForever. Many Filipinos rely on tourism for livelihood and business opportunities as these help uplift the quality of their lives. In light of this, the Department looks into three major indicators to attain this vision: (1) the enforcement of national laws and local ordinances, (2) the investments on local infrastructures and facilities, and (3) the private sector engagement.
“A lot of travelers are now looking at the Philippines because of the thrust for sustainable tourism. Our tourists now are more mindful—they choose to go to a place where they know that environmental laws are in place, and that we take care of the environment to make tourist spots very clean and safe to enjoy,” the DoT Chief concluded.