New El Nido joint conservation agreement signed

MANILA, Philippines — Various stakeholders have renewed their commitment to protect and strengthen the natural resources of El Nido in Palawan with the signing of a new joint conservation agreement.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local government units, civic groups, environmentalists and residents recently inked a new agreement toward the sustainability of one of the country’s top destinations.

The Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI), the joint undertaking of the government and the private sector, also signed the renewal of the conservation agreement for El Nido.

“The partnership aims to implement and sustain ecotourism and other livelihood activities for the people of El Nido. MFI will train and provide livelihood programs for the people, while our local officials, together with the local government, will support them,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

The MFI provides livelihood and ecotourism training through its two flagship programs, the Barangay Aquatic Habitat and Underwater Regeneration Assistance (BAHURA), and the Livelihood Alternatives and Mariculture-Based Assistance Program (LAMBAT).

The BAHURA program helps local communities implement coastal resource management plans as well as environment-friendly alternative livelihood while LAMBAT offers training to locals to acquire new skills, such as for environment-friendly mariculture or carpentry.

Under the agreement, the parties resolved to implement and maintain programs aimed at protecting the environment, including the establishment and maintenance of materials recovery facilities, tree and mangrove seedling nurseries; scheduling regular coastal and sea cleanup activities, and cooperatively guarding and patrolling the seas and forests of El Nido.

Last January, the Protected Area Management Board of El Nido-Taytay Protected Area passed a resolution that limits tourist entry and activity in three of the most visited places in El Nido.

In the Big Lagoon, only 60 guests will be allowed at any one time or a maximum of 720 guests per day. In the Small Lagoon, a maximum of 30 guests will be allowed at any one time or a total of 360 persons per day. For the Secret Beach, only 12 visitors will be allowed at any one time or a total of 144 a day.

Limits on the number of conveyances have also been set – a maximum of five boats in the anchorage area and 30 kayaks inside the Big Lagoon, 15 kayaks inside the Small Lagoon, and two boats in the anchorage area of Secret Beach.

According to the report of the El Nido Municipal Tourism Office, tourist arrivals in the town have increased by more than 30 percent annually in the last three years, reaching almost 200,000 in 2017.

El Nido is part of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, a 90,321-hectare key biodiversity area.