Davao City dads in town for eco-tourism

The City Council of Davao City headed by Honorable Vice Mayor Luis Bongcuyan is in Iloilo and Aklan from May 23 to 26, 2005 to learn and replicate the gains of Panay Island in Eco-Tourism.

The Panay Island Eco-Tour jumpstarted with a Courtesy Call to Hon. Jerry Treñas, Iloilo City Mayor in the afternoon of May 23, 2005. The following morning, May 24, Mr. Mario Lazarito, Overall Coordinator of Ocho-Ocho Eco-Tours did a Multi-Media Presentation of the Canada International Development Agency-Local Government Support Program (CIDA-LGSP) Funded Project entitled: “ECOTOURISM AND RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL."

Mr. Lazarito emphasized that the presentation is especially tailored to policy makers whose policy support is important in the success of eco-tourism programs and projects such as the "Ocho-Ocho Eco-Tours". Ocho-Ocho is an 8 eco-tour/8 destinations marketing program to promote the following circuits: Iloilo Circuit composed of San Joaquin, Ajuy and Concepcion; North Panay Circuit composed of Kalibo and Tangalan in Aklan, and Northwest Panay Peninsula Circuit composed of Nabas and Malay in Aklan with Pandan in Antique. All the above-mentioned tour packages are products of the recently concluded CIDA-LGSP Community-Based Tourism Program. Each of the municipalities are now maintaining/managing their own Community-Based Eco-Tourism Project.

After the presentation, the group did their field visit and availed of the "Manggad it Kalibo" Eco-Tour. The 3-fold tour package highlights the cultural wealth of the Municipality of Kalibo, namely: the showcase of Bakhawan Eco-Tourism Center; the Pina and the Ati-Atihan Village. During the tour the group was enthralled by the stories of how a forest came to be; amazed by the process of piña cloth making; and, heed the call of the drums in the ati-atihan beat doubled with the warmth and hospitality of the people of Aklan.

After the Kalibo leg, the Group proceeded to Boracay Island in the Municipality of Malay in Aklan to observe and experience the amenities of the Philippines' major tourist destination. Last May 25, a meeting with the Mabunay Host of Boracay Island was also held to guide the council on the brand of participation with the private sector should plan be pursued in Davao City.

Satisfied with the study tour in Iloilo and Aklan, the Davao City ABC President planned an Eco-Tourism Planning Workshop in Iloilo of all Davao City Punong Barangays and key players with the objective of formally establishing a barangay-based eco-tourism programs and projects sometime this year.