Palakasin ang ecotourism

MALAKING tulong sa ekonomiya ng bansa kapag napa-lakas nang husto ang ecotourism. Ito ang binigyang-diin ni Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada sa kanyang iniakdang Se-nate Bill 1483 (National Ecotourism Policy Act).

Aniya, “Ang Pilipinas ay biniyayaan ng napakayamang kalikasan. Kailangang gamitin natin ito nang wasto upang ganap na mapakinabangan, kasabay ng pangangalaga at ibayo pang pagpapaunlad nito. Kailangan ding tiyakin ang kapakanan ng mga komunidad na direktang nakaugnay sa mga ito. Isinusulong ko ang pag-maximize ng benepisyo ng kalikasan sa industriya ng turismo, partikular sa sus-tainable ecotourism.

Layon ng aking panukala na itakda ang pambansang ecotourism policy na magtitiyak ng balanseng kaunlarang pang-ekonomiya at pangangalaga sa kalikasan, pati ang pagganap ng tungkulin ng mga komunidad laluna ng indi-genous cultural communities bilang stewards of ecotourism gayundin ang kaukulang benepisyo nito para sa kanila.”

Alinsunod sa panukala:

A.) The State shall: establish framework for the utilization of natural sites for tourism purposes; encourage non-government organizations, people’s organizations and the private sector to initiate programs for tourism development and environmental protection; and enlist the participation of local communities including the indigenous peoples in the determination of ecotourism sites and ensuring their right to the full enjoyment of the benefits thereof.

B.) There are hereby identified areas which shall comprise the Network of Ecotourism Sites. The sites shall include but not be limited to areas within the National In­te­grated Protected Areas System as identified under Republic Act 7586, and other areas with significant and rele­vant cultural heritage.

C.) There is hereby created a National Ecotourism Com­mission… to be assisted by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resour-ces… which shall review/update the existing Ecotourism Master Plan and supervise its implementation; assess and eva-luate the potential impacts of development to the environmental integrity of areas to be included in the Network of Ecotourism Sites; assist local populations to be affected by ecotourism development to integrate their cultural values and beliefs in ecotourism programs; and formulate a Code of Ecotourism Practice and Ethics and corresponding rules and regulations.