EV seen as new snorkeling destination

Underwater view at Maslog Fish Sanctuary, Lawaan, Eastern Samar [Photo by: Roneil Canillas]

TACLOBAN CITY – Seeing Eastern Visayas's potential of becoming one of the snorkeling destinations in the country, a training of snorkeling guides was recently held in Limasawa, Southern Leyte by the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism.

“Our target are places with successful marine protected areas to be able to establish community-based tourism,” said Louie F. Mencias, PCSSD national director of the Buhay Dagat Program.

He said that he and three other trainers gave lectures and practical exercises to more than 20 participants of the 6-day Buhay Dagat training in the island town of Limasawa.

Mencias disclosed that Limasawa was chosen because it has an existing marine protected area and that the local government unit has shown interest to put up a Buhay Dagat group in the municipality. “Limasawa is really beautiful, it has crystal clear water surrounding the island. Actually in our assessment we found out that snorkeling is feasible in the area,” he said.

He added that they are also looking into Daram, Samar as the next program beneficiary. Also in the line up is Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Under the Buhay Dagat program, Mencias said they first look if the proposed snorkeling destination has a successful marine protected area and then, since it has something to do with tourism, the safety and security of the place. Also considered is the accessibiltiy and tourism traffic of the place because, according to him, they want the community to earn.

Another thing they want to know is if the place is ideal for snorkeling, he said.

Though his office has something to do with scuba diving, Mencias explained that they are promoting snorkeling because scuba diving is already being taken cared of by big resorts and dive shops.

In scuba diving, he said the community is always left out. For example, he said, Limasawa is a dive site but the town's benefit from tourism is only user fee. “Pinupuntahan na lang sila kasi nasa kanila ang attraction, sila ang nagbabantay pero wala silang kita kundi user fee ( (Tourists only come to their place because the attraction is there and they are safeguarding the place but they have no income except user fee,” he said.

 

Snorkling in one of the  one the fish sanctuaries in Lawaan, Eastern Samar [Photo by: Roneil Canillas]

“But snorkeling is something they can do,” he added.

Mencias said the snorkeling market is very big. “Everybody can go snorkeling including those who don't know how to swim because they could be given a personal flotation device. This is unlike scuba diving where you have to be in good physical condition and you also haveto undergo training and have expensive diving equipment,” he said.

He expressed hope that snorkeling would generate more interest and support for marine protected areas, to be able to establish community-based tourism.

He disclosed that Limasawa is already the eighth in the list of Buhay Dagat beneficiaries. According to him, the program was already implemented in Bohol, Pangasinan, Negros Occidental, and Occidental Mindoro, among other places. (VEN LABRO)

Samar Island opens doors to fun and adventure tourism

By Pearl G. Lena

TACLOBAN CITY, June 10 (PNA) — Eastern Visayas is not only about the National Maharlika Highway that connects Luzon and Mindanao.

But this region, through Samar, the country's third largest island, offers a perfect destination for people who seek fun and adventure.

Samar in Eastern Visayas is a place yet to be explored.

But it is ready to amaze visitors with its magnificent caves, beautiful waterfalls, inviting pristine waters, historical places, and other sceneries in their most-preserved forms.

Samar is composed of three provinces: Western Samar, which is the “mother” province as well as Northern and Eastern Samar.

Tourism regional director Karina Rosa S. Tiopez told the Philippines News Agency that Eastern Visayas has varied potentials.

Samar is ahead when it comes to adventure, with its caves as among its prominent attractions.
Samar hosts the biggest cave system in the country and second in Asia: the Langun-Gobingob caves in Calbiga town.

“You’ll find caves dotted all around the island of Samar,” she said, adding the pristine carves are even comparable to the size of the island of Cebu.

These caves, she said, have different sizes, making available various levels of challenges; some are not even fully explored yet including that of the Langun-Gobingob.

On the other hand, Sohoton Cave in Calbayog City is dubbed as “cave for all ages” and is the most accessible because of its proximity to Tacloban City, the region’s gateway.

The cave has a flat terrain with three chambers where stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations are preserved, she added.

A tour of the cave takes around an hour.

Calbayog is also known as the “city of waterfalls” and the local government unit is bent on developing Bangon Falls as one of its priorities, she disclosed.

Meanwhile, one can experience an adrenaline rush with the Ulot River Torpedo Extreme Boat Riding in Paranas town.

It is an adventure that offers a downstream and upstream ride using a motorized dugout boat without an outrigger, only at the longest river of Samar island.

Only 10 kms of the river though is being utilized for the ride.

The escapade, however, is not only about enjoyment but a glimpse of the way of life of Samarnons.
During the early years people had to navigate passing the Ulot River using the torpedo-shaped when there was no formal road network that connect Eastern and western Samar, she added.

On the other hand, visitors should never miss out on the four island towns of Northern Samar, each with a different character to showcase.

Biri has its five rock islets; San Antonio has spots for snorkeling, swimming, kayaking; San Vicente with its pink sand beach; and Capul, which used to be stopover for galleon ships doing trade between the Philippines and Acapulco, Mexico, for its white sand beach.

Capul has its 17th century church and a light house that was made by the Americans during the World War II.

Tiopez said that these island destinations are being paired with mainland towns that serve as their jump off point.

For instance, Biri is being paired with Lavezares town, which is now developing a kayaking activity along its mangrove area not to mention its high potential for bird watching.

Eastern Samar, on the other hand, will not be left out with the Calicoan Island of Guian town that is now dubbed as a surfing destination.

Surfing @ Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar [Photo by: Roneil Canillas]

“It has the best of both worlds; part of the island facing Leyte Gulf has the biggest potential to be developed into resorts because the sea is calm. Facing Pacific Ocean is the best side for surfing,” she said.

She added that surfing enthusiasts like the waves in Calicoan because they come from both directions.

It is the favorite destination of surfers, especially foreigners, from July to September and even when there are typhoons.

Tiopez added that visiting these places or in other parts of the region is not difficult with the Dept. of Public Works and Highways doing appropriate actions should there are problems in the road network.
She also disclosed that through their tourism road map they looked forward to address the problem on accessibility especially that “large majority of natural attractions” lack the last mile access road.
Other identified destinations though can be easily reached already.

Also getting to these places from outside of the region is not difficult with direct flights from Manila, Cebu and Iloilo to Tacloban City as entry point.

They may also opt to fly direct to Catarman in Northern Samar or via Guian airport in Eastern Samar.
Meanwhile, DOT’s efforts to promote these provinces as destinations are picking up, according to Tiopez.

In Samar based on actual data provided by local government units to the DOT as of October last year, various destinations were visited by 2,883 guests; 3647 in Eastern Samar and 5631 in Northern Samar.

For the entire Eastern Visayas, arrivals have been steadily increasing with 490, 472 actual tourists in 2012 against the target of 393, 073.

The actual arrival was higher by .034 percent against the 365, 467 visitors in 2011.
More than 73 percent of the guests were domestic tourists while the rest were from Japan, America and some parts of Europe.

With destinations identified and already in place, the tourism department is looking forward to hurdle the image that was painted of the place when it comes to peace and order situation.

Tiopez underscored that these places are “relatively peaceful.”

“If you’re here you’ll feel really more secure,” she said. “We had never had any reported incident that they harmed tourists, local or foreign.”

The Philippine Army is gearing to declare Northern Samar and Samar provinces as manageable conflict-affected areas ready for development in the next two years.

Eastern Samar has been declared along with other provinces of Eastern Visayas, which means that it has been cleared of the influence of insurgents and is ready to welcome investors. (PNA)

from: www.balita.ph
original page: http://balita.ph/2013/06/10/samar-island-opens-doors-to-fun-and-adventure-tourism/

DOT, DPWH to open roads to tourist destinations in E. Samar

Balangiga Encounter Monument, Poblacion, Balangiga, E. Samar [Photo by: Christoper Zamora]

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, April 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Tourism in Region 8 (DOT-8) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DEO) held a meeting recently, this city.

The objective of the said activity is to find ways to alleviate poverty through infrastructure, tourism and employment projects.

Ricardo D. Odita, OIC-district engineer, said that national agencies like the DOT is tying-up with the DPWH to come up with infrastructure projects beneficial to urban areas in terms of tourism and employment. This is a dream of every local community that do not have the capacity to finance such projects.

Odita added that some of these projects had already started like the upgrading of access road in Brgy. Lalawigan, the jump-off point to Brgy. Divinubo island with a total cost of P16 million.

Another is the upgrading of access road leading to the municipality of Maydolong's Closed Canopy Forest Area costing P50 million.

There is also the upgrading of Brgy. Sulangan-Guiuan road with an appropriation of P100 million being implemented by the DPWH-8.

"Once this access road to the tourist destinations is rehabilitated and improved, it will result in the increase of commerce through economic development and tourist activity, not only in the province of Eastern Samar but in the region as well," Odita said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting proper, Karina Rosa S. Tiopes, regional director of DOT-8 presented the revised Tourism Road Infrastructure Priority Project Criteria (TRIPPC).

In her presentation, she emphasized the importance of 5As which means: Access, Accommodation, Attraction, Activity, and Amenities.

She also presented the list of projects evaluated by the Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) using the TRIPPC.

For Eastern Samar, there are four projects, namely, 1) the rehabilitation/improved of 0.6 kilometers (km) access road leading to jump-off point of Ando Island (Brgy. Punta Maria), including the access roads leading to travel destinations within the island and Installation of safety devices, signage and lighting, Borongan City; 2) upgrading of access road (gravel to paved) from National Highway to Minasangay Ecological Park, including box culvert and signage, Brgy. 1, Balangkayan, E. Samar; 3) upgrading of access road (gravel to paved) from National Highway to Amandaraga Falls, Brgy. Ginob-an, Lalawigan, E. Samar; and 4) installation of directional and cautionary signage leading to Balangiga Encounter Monument, Poblacion, Balangiga, E. Samar.

Tiopes further said that these projects will be endorsed by Working Group to the National Technical Working Group (DOT-DPWH) for review and final approval.

"If this proposed project will be realized, it will create jobs, livelihood opportunities and business," Tiopes said.

Twenty-four participants attended the said activity composed mostly of municipal planning & development officers, municipal engineers, Tito Codoy, mayor of Llorente, and Jaime Ty, mayor of Gen. Mac-Arthur, E. Samar.

These projects are in line with the social contract of the President to the people. (SDC-PIA 89, E. Samar)

P9.8-M livelihood projects for tourism proposed

LOCAL government units have proposed a P9.8-million livelihood project for tourism development in Eastern Visayas next year, under the National Government’s bottom-up budgeting approach.

Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that priority projects depart from the traditional construction of tourism infrastructure funded by the central government.

“This fills the gap in our budget. The focus is product development and capability building activities, which will generate jobs in rural communities,” Tiopes told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

According to Tiopes, livelihood opportunities generated from tourist arrivals will help the community appreciate the value of tourism. The focus is tourism-related services.

Of the P9.8 million proposed, P8.12 million will be coming from the central government and P1.68 million will be the counterpart of participating local government units,” she added.

Sites that will be prioritized for product development are the San Bernardino Natural Cold Spring in Caibiran, Biliran; World War II historical sites in Pastrana, Leyte; Lake Danao, Kandion cave and mangrove areas in Ormoc City; World War II historical lighthouse in Catbalogan City, and Barangay Laygayon in Pinabacdao, Samar.

Focused areas for capability building are the marine sports tourism in Macrohon, Southern Leyte; sun and beach tourism in San Jose, Northern Samar; nature adventure tourism in Rock Island of Biri, Northern Samar; heritage and cultural tourism in Allen, Northern Samar; Divinubo Ando Islands and Monbon Islet in Borongan City, Eastern Samar; Milan Falls in Taft, Eastern Samar; Amandaraga Falls in Lawaan, Eastern Samar; festival in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar; and Sohoton Cave in Basey, Samar.

Amandaraga Falls, Lawaan, Eastern Samar [Photo by: Roneil Canillas]

Bottom-up budgeting approach was piloted by nine government agencies for 2013 national budget. It employs a breakthrough “bottom-up” approach contrary. Contrary to the conventional way of allocating resources from top to bottom, grassroots communities are engaged in budget preparation.

The cabinet cluster on human development and poverty reduction has identified 300 to 400 of the poorest municipalities and will engage these in crafting community-level poverty reduction and empowerment plans.

“This approach aims to empower the poor communities with unique tourism asset to identify and prioritize their local poverty reduction plans for inclusion in the budgets of our office for 2014,” Tiopes added.

If a local government unit (LGU) is technically capable of implementing projects, budget will be transferred to concerned LGUs but it will be under the scrutiny of the Department of Tourism.

Under the new tourism sectoral plan, Eastern Visayas is eyeing more than half a million tourist arrivals by 2016, targeting domestic visitors from three regions and foreign tourists from Europe and other five countries.

Of the 523,842 target number of tourists, 485,385 are domestic and 38,460 are foreign. The sectoral plan eyes tourists from within the region, Central Visayas, and the National Capital Region. Target foreign tourists are from USA, Australia, Japan, Europe, Korea, and China. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)

E. Samar boasts ‘unexplored’ underwater world

Can-usod Fish Sanctuary, Brgy. Betaog, Lawaan, E. Samar

Eastern Samar has the potential to become a recreational diving destination with aggressive campaigns highlighting the province’s marine life, a tourism official said.

Karen Chan, executive director of Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), the area’s potential is high due to its aqua marine coral reefs and marine life.

However, she said there is a need for a strong tourism development and promotion of its rich marine biodiversity if only to attract local and foreign diving enthusiasts to visit the province.

“The province is a bit unexplored but once the infrastructure is also in place and hype-up its natural resources, it can be a potential dive destination,” Chan said.

“I would think that there are people going there on their own but unlike in other established areas they already have a plotted map of the dive site. I think this one needs to be developed first,” she said.

According to her, one way to promote dive resorts is to have them accredited with the PCSSD, the tourism department’s regulatory arm for scuba sports and technical diving establishments.

“Afterwards, among the benefit they could get from us is they get notification when we have trade shows abroad. We will include them in our materials that we give out abroad,” Chan said.

“They also have the prerogative to join that trade fair that we join abroad,” she added.

Online travel guide website, www.philippinesboard.com, listed the islands of Calicoan and Kantican, both in Guiuan town, as among the province’s “best diving and swimming sites.”

The DOT is currently promoting diving as one of the major attractions in promoting the Philippines with nearly 500 unexplored dive sites.

Chan said that 15 percent of foreign tourists come here for diving. “It is regarded as one of the top activities in the Philippines, though it is still not as well-promoted. What more if it was?” she said. (PacificTimes.org)

Army: Eastern Samar now ready for development

801st Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Labador, Eastern Samar Vice Governor Christopher Sheen P. Gonzales, 8th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Gerardo T. Layug, and Eastern Samar Governor Conrado B. Nicart, Jr., sign a joint-declaration announcing the province is now ready for development. (Photo by REINIER M. AMPONG)

By MEDORA NB QUIRANTE
March 28, 2013

  

BORONGAN CITY – The Philippine Army and the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar announced through a joint declaration that the province is now a “manageable conflict-affected and ready for development area” (MCA-RDA).

In a program that lasted less than an hour in the morning of March 25, 2013, 8th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Gerardo T. Layug, Eastern Samar Governor Conrado B. Nicart, Jr., Vice Governor Christopher Sheen P. Gonzales, and 801st Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Labador, signed copies of the declaration with provincial employees and members of the press as witnesses.

Layug, in his message, said the province is now ready to take its first step towards being a world class tourist destination.

Alternative tourism destination

The declaration came a year after the approval of the Samar Island tourism master development plan by the Regional Development Council.

Under the plan, the government and local tourist stakeholders will concentrate its efforts in developing Eastern Samar’s Borongan-Llorente forest canopy and Calicoan Island in Guiuan, along with 16 other destinations in the island.

With the plan, Samar Island, home to eco-tourism adventure, cultural and heritage sites, and rich marine life aims to make be third largest tourist haven by 2016.

“We have to admit, in the past, when you talked of Samar Island, you’d think NPA or insurgents,” Layug said.

According to the army commander, based on records, in the past three years rebel activities in the province have dramatically dropped.

“Now we can proudly say that insurgency is no longer as big a problem as it was before. Now, we’re ready to invite tourists and investors to the province,” Layug said.

Winning the peace

Under the Internal Peace and Security Program Bayanihan, the army has incorporated development initiatives and involved the local government units in its campaign against insurgency.

“The army has shifted its orientation from being combat-oriented to involving everybody not in winning the war but winning the peace,” Layug said.

For Gov. Nicart, the declaration was not only the success of his administration but “the success of every Estehanon.”

Army reports reveal that before the declaration was signed on the provincial level, same declarations have been signed in its component towns.

“We have 19 towns that have signed the same declaration. The signing will only make it official but Jipapad, Maslog, Giporlos and Gen. Mac Arthur are already in the list of MCA-RDA towns,” Labador said.

The province is first in Samar Island and is third province in the region to be declared as manageable conflict-affected and ready for development.

Samar tourism plan approved

Surfing @ ABCD Beach, Calicooan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar [Photo by: Roneil C. Canillas]

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas formally approved the newly drafted Samar Island tourism master development plan.

The plan aims to guide stakeholders in making the island an alternative tourist destination by 2016.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Cynthia Nierras, who presented the plan during an executive meeting, said the plan provides a framework and direction for tourism development for the three provinces of Samar Island.

The plan, which was drafted by the Samar tourism stakeholders and consultancy firm Berkman International, also lists major infrastructure projects to support tourism promotion. 

These include completion of a circumferential road, upgrading of the national highway, opening of access roads to tourist spots, construction of diversion roads and airport upgrading.

Nieras said among the areas considered in the master development plan include the

identification of strategic tourism development areas, marketing component, physical infrastructure development, social analysis and gender considerations.

Site validation was conducted in identified attractions to find out what types of development is appropriate for each attraction. 

The aspirations of the local people in Samar Island were also documented and were considered as basis for introducing tourism development.

Samar Island, which is home to eco-tourism adventure, cultural and heritage sites, and rich marine life, is identified as an emerging tourism destination.

Earlier, tourism stakeholders in three Samar provinces identified 18 destinations that will be prioritized in the master plan, aiming to make the country’s third largest island as tourist haven by 2016. 

Among the known destinations in the island are the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Calbiga caves in Calbiga, the network of waterfalls in Calbayog City, all in Samar; the Biri Protected Seascapes in Biri; the San Antonio Beaches in San Antonio, both in Northern Samar; the Borongan-Llorente forest canopy in Borongan, Samar; and surfing on Calicoan Island, Guiuan, both in Eastern Samar.

from EVR Media Network