Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

DENR, LGU strengthen environmental regulations in Batanes amid influx of tourists

Posted on May 18, 2015

By Lilybeth G. Ison

BASCO, Batanes, May 18 (PNA) — With the influx of foreign and local tourists in the country’s northernmost islands group, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has partnered with the local government of Batanes to strengthen the province’s environmental regulations.

The entire province of Batanes has been declared as a marine protected area and is nominated into the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In Sabtang, one of the three islands of the province, Mayor Maxilindo A. Babalo lamented there is no comprehensive tourist plan yet amid the influx of tourists in the area — estimated to be at 9,000 in the first quarter of the year.

“I asked the Sangguniang Bayan to protect our place. We don’t yet have regulations on tour operations. We’re becoming like Boracay that started with a few tourists and then year after year was getting more and more crowded,” he said in an interview.

In 2013, Batanes only had 5,000 tourist arrivals. The volume of guests jacked up to 17,000 in 2014.

“We have been overtaken by surprise by tourists without us being prepared,” said Babalo.

While it’s not yet too late, he said, Sabtang is implementing by next month a regulation compelling tour operators and tour guides to obtain a license with the Department of Tourism (DOT) before these are allowed to bring in guests.

The absence of licensed tour operators and tour guides not only leave the local government without proper revenue but also the possibilities of environmental degradation and biodiversity dangers.

Babalo said a building code ordinance that would conform with the traditional structure of the island will soon be implemented so as to preserve the historic value of Sabtang such as the stone houses of the Ivatans.

“We need to issue a building code as many people of Batanes origin who now live abroad have become interested in investing,” he said.

According to the DENR, their recommended conservation efforts actually support traditional nature preservation practices of the Ivatans.

These practices include the “abtas” or laws and “dangen” which are prohibitions in fishing and farming.

Fishing gears are barred from use during the “mayvanuvanua mataw” season which are spawning seasons for marine resources.

For the preservation of its rolling terrain from erosion and protection of crops, the Batan natives have made use of “hedgerows.” These are rows of reeds, tree grass, piled stones that divide hills into sections.

To control garbage disposal, a material recovery facility that allows for waste segregation is being constructed in Batan in a PhP3.5-million project of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). Garbage will no longer be collected unless these are segregated based generally on whether these are biodegradable or non-biodegradable usually for recycling purposes.

Babalo said the National Greening Program (NGP) of DENR has also helped in beautifying the province as former denuded mountains now covered by trees or grasses.

“The NGP has made a very good impact in our tourism because now mountains have become green. They give beauty to the landscape,” he said.

For his part, Catalino Alcon, Chanarian Marine Protected Area Association (CMPAA) officer, said that the first that have to be guarded are the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Batanes’ economy rests mainly on fishing. Sustainability of fishery as a revenue source of the natives depends on the enforcement of “no fishing” rule on MPAs.

The CMPAA and DENR are organizing a people’s group composed of fishermen-volunteer as guard for MPA protection. The MPAs are in Ivana, Mahatao, Uyugan, and Basco in the Batan Island and in Chavayan and Nakamuan in Sabtang Island.

There are now rules on no catch of Dorado and flying fish at certain period of the year.

Being pushed also for protection in Batanes is the presence of endemic flora species, including many kinds of ferns.

There are two endemic bird species — Philippine Coucal and the Lowland White-eye.

For other mammals found in the province, nine species are included — a shrew, three fruit bats, four insectivorous or micro bat, ad rat.

Three recent fauna species included in its endemic list are Little-winged Bat, Common bent-winged bat, Oriental Horse Rat, Common Short-nosed Bat and Yellow-faced Horseshoe Bat.

Placed earlier under close watch were pit vipers found to be smuggled by Koreans. The pit vipers, caught for their venom used as medicine, were being bought from natives at around PhP150 per piece but reportedly sold in Korea at up to PhP3,000.

In 2006, more than 20 pit vipers were confiscated by DENR at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They were subsequently released to Batanes wild after having been cared for.

There are 104 bird species found in Batanes, of which 40 are resident birds, 42 winter visitors, and two migratory birds.

Survey showed the province has 19 species of herpetofauna, including 10 that are endemic to the Philippines of which five are found only in Batanes.

DENR and CMPAA are designating certain areas in the MPAs either as multi-use zone or permanently no fishing zone. The multi-use zone may allow tourist services such as diving snorkeling, and game fishing.

In order to support inclusion in the World Heritage List, a biodiversity monitoring system (BMS) is being implemented by DENR, according to Management Services Chief Nestor C. Reyes.

The National Museum is also completing a survey of fauna and flora species, especially the endemic ones. (PNA)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme