A “green shift” in the development path for the province espoused by Governor Edgar Chatto has been welcomed by various sectors as it underlines the need to put environmental renewal and climate-change readiness at the center of the new administration's policy directions. As Bohol face the challenges of attaining economic growth while keeping in check the general environmental degradation, Chatto made clear his strategy for a sustainable development direction of the province. People from different sectors said the public should embrace the governor's policy embodied in his “mission slogan” LIFE HELPS which puts a premium on creating livelihood opportunities, infrastructure, food, education, health and a sustainable resource management. Stakeholders in Panglao who agree with Chatto's strategy said maximizing the potentials of eco-tourism in the province at the same time requiring industry players to practice sustainability through sincere action and efforts in complying with environmental regulations, is key to Bohol's economic transformation.

“The whole idea is to build or rebuild communities into ecological and sustainable ones,” said a stakeholder and potential investor in Panglao Island, a favorite tourist destination which is also a microcosm of the need to integrate “environmental economics” where mass tourism flourish. Stakeholders said however that it is high time that laws seeking to preserve and protect the environment should be strictly enforced while penalizing those who continue to violate. He said individuals or establishments engaged in the tourism industry should turn “green” by helping minimize the degradation of local resources in every business undertaking. The source stressed that every development undertaking comes with an environmental cost but what is more essential is how the stress on the environment is mitigated and how resources are wisely managed.

Another source pointed out the need to rebuild or rehabilitate disappearing forests, eroded watersheds, ruined corals and marine sanctuaries and other threatened ecosystems, which is the ecotourism backbone of the province. “It is sad to note that Balicasag Island, acknowledged as a top destination of scuba divers, has been poorly managed that at the rate of its current degradation, even dive shop operators and the resident manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) in the island Maria Elena Go, admitted the dive site would be absolutely destroyed in a span of 7 to 10 years,” the stakeholder explained.

May tourist resorts in Panglao Island empty their sewage directly into the shorelines which ultimately affects water surrounding coral reefs contributing to its degradation. Despite campaigns to enforce the law on 20-meter public easement, there are septic tanks constructed along the shores and wastes kept even in well-maintained septic tanks could leak into the surrounding ground water, eventually seeping out to the reefs,” she added. Destruction of coral reefs could also lead to loss or death of marine life and could worsen the already dwindling fish catch, plunging further the productivity of our fishing industry, a major source of food and livelihood of the Boholanos. The uncontrolled operation of diving activities, careless boating, snorkeling and fishing likewise greatly contributed to coral reef destruction and the degradation of beach areas in Panglao, the sources said.

But despite this “clear and present danger”, some resort operators and dive shop owners seem to flaunt their concern to the environment as if they are not the principal violators themselves. The stakeholders lauded Gov. Chatto in seeing the need to designate tourism officers in every local government unit for the sustainability of tourism and to professionalize its service sector. This concern was aired by the governor during the first Provincial Tourism Council meeting and full council meeting of the Provincial Development Council on Thursday. Chatto, principal author of the National Tourism Act of 2009 during his stint in Congress, also called for a Tourism Summit during his first 100-days, where Bohol will host national and local officials from other provinces and industry stakeholders. (Kit Bagaipo)