New tracking tool may avert Boracay-like crisis

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is optimistic that another Boracay-like crisis will not happen with a new tracking tool installed in major destinations in the country.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu is hopeful the ecotourism tracking tool (ETT) will help monitor and evaluate activities in ecotourism sites and systematize the conservation and protection of destinations prone to environmental degradation.

“The ETT will enable not just the DENR but all stakeholders to efficiently assess to which degree an ecotourism site is managed according to a set of sustainability indicators. It will support proactive management of all ecotourism sites in the country,” Cimatu said.

DENR-attached agency Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) was earlier ordered to conduct a study that will determine the capacity of ecotourism sites.

The DENR maintained that one of the reasons why Boracay suffered from environmental degradation was the “lack of guidelines, standards or certification mechanisms towards its effective management as an ecotourism area.”

ERDB director Henry Adornado said the ETT will address the issue by providing quality certification system and parameters for the effective management of ecotourism sites.

“Some travel operators only show in their advertisements the positive image of their ecotourism-related activities, showing no or less considerations on the environmental degradation, social and cultural exploitation,” he added.

Using the eight-point ETT, resorts and other recreational and tourism operators will be monitored and evaluated in relation to their friendliness to the environment and adherence to ecotourism principles.

The parameters in evaluating ecotourism sites are policies, operations, management, sociocultural ecotourism products and services, economic benefits, financing and enterprising building, bio-ecological features and facilities.

The ERDB recommends the ETT for use by the Department of Tourism, Biodiversity Management Bureau, local government units, ecotourism project implementers, private and community-based travel and tour operators. – With Elizabeth Marcelo