Cordova bolsters marine promotion

CEBU, Philippines - The municipal government of Cordova is intensifying its efforts in promoting the town's marine sanctuary in Gilutongan and Nalusuan islets to attract more domestic and foreign tourists.

This, after Mayor Adelino Sitoy informed members of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board that Cordova hosts marine sanctuary in the said islets.

Although the marine sanctuary in the two islet barangays in Cordova is not included in the list of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' plan to endorse, Mayor Sitoy said they will make their own campaign to promote the attraction.

DENR officials earlier informed members of the MCDCB that Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City is an ideal place to attract more tourists.

Lapu-Lapu City and DENR, with the help of the Department of Tourism, have agreed to join their resources in promoting Olango Island.

Sitoy, on the other hand, said the marine sanctuary in Nalusuan and Gilutongan have been attracting more visitors since they started their operations.

Nalusuan is a man-made resort island and one of the islands comprising the Olango Island Group. The island, which measures close to a hectare, is situated in between the Province of Bohol and Mactan Island, a Wikipedia entry says.

Originally a sand bar, it was reclaimed to allow the construction of the Nalusuan Island Resort, which occupies the entire island.

The island was originally and locally known as "kalusuan" meaning "a place of penises" in Cebuano. The local fishermen named it as such because the waters surrounding the island is teeming with sea cucumbers, which looked like the male genitalia.

Meanwhile, Gilutongan island's reefs were destroyed due to the poverty-stricken fishermen who resorted to dynamite fishing and cyanide use. However, after an ordinance was tailored in 1999 to declare it a marine sanctuary, hence such a law after its approval was disseminated well to the local community.

The objective of involving the residents in coastal management of Gilutongan led to the gradual recovery of its endemic fish and coral species, according to official accounts.

Former Cordova town councilor Gregorio Jumao-as said the marine sanctuary in Gilutongan has attracted thousands of visitors mostly Koreans.

Jumao-as, one of the consultants of the municipal government of Cordova in the promotion of the town's historical, cultural and tourism affairs, said the sanctuary can be a source of additional income for the municipal government.

He also said the economic development of the two islet barangays also improved because of the sanctuary. (FREEMAN)