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| 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.
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| 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)
