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)