Ecotourism on the rise in Hundred Islands Part 2

 

By @SiRVis

A travel journal that will give you a pleasant view of people, places, food, culture, history and events from a refreshing perspective

THE Department of Tourism Region 1 Office is one with the United Nations World Tourism Organization in its commitment in promoting sustainable tourism towards development as they came up with the theme “Sustainable Tourism: A Tool for Development” for this year’s tourism month celebration which was adopted from the UNWTO 2017 World Tourism Day theme.

Alaminos has risen up to the challenge in promoting ecotourism by providing sustainable tourism activities specifically in the Hundred Islands National Park. This has sparked whole year-round influx of visitors in the islands. The Hundred Islands now has solar-powered posts, garden and beach lights. For accommodation, there are well-maintained guest houses, gazebos and pavilions on the nine islands. Rest rooms are equipped with a septic tank that treats water before it is released to the sea. Other wastes from the islands are hauled everyday to the mainland where they are disposed of properly.

Check out the zipline systems in the different islands. The Quezon Island to Lopez Island zipline allows you to get back from where you came as it is motorized. Tourists can now island hop and swim at Lopez Island simply by availing the services of said zipline from Quezon Island. At Quezon island which is the main island and where most tourists swim, you can also do wall climbing and rappelling. You can also walk to the Boardwalk island via (of course) a boardwalk.

The 123 small islands scattered in the park’s 1,676-hectare area has only 16 have beaches. The rest of the islands have coraline shores not fit for swimming. Some are more fit for snorkeling and diving. Good news for those who love to snorkel! The corals are now undergoing restoration and replanting which Mayor Art Celeste prioritizes and personally oversees. The mayor who is now a certified diver has set-up Task Force I.S.L.A with retired colonel Manuel Velasco at the helm of the task force. The back of Quezon Island and the front of Macapagal Island are currently off limits to due to coral replanting. Buoys are installed to indicate boundary limits of tourists’ water activities.

The construction of a “Station of the Cross” at the Pilgrimage Island is also ongoing. The Station of the Cross will feature life size images of Jesus Christ and other religious characters during the day of Christ’s crucifixion. This is Alaminos’ early preparation for the Lenten Season next year.

As part of lessening the city’s carbon footprint, Alaminos City in collaboration with BEMAC Electric Transportation has launched its Eco and Agri Tourism Program utilizing an Eco Friendly Three Wheel Electric Shuttle Service which will be used as transportation around the Lucap Wharf. This type of electric vehicle can also be seen in Binondo, Manila, Intramuros, and Boracay Island.

More great news: avail of 20% discount on entrance on entrance fee, environmental fee, island activities and zipline until the end of the month in line with the celebration of Tourism month. To cap off the September and kick-off October, Alaminos City features the reggae band Brownman Revival on September 30, 2017 7PM at the Lucap Park.

It’s summer in September in Alaminos City!

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