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Impacts of Ecotourism Development in

El Nido, Palawan

December 2006

In partial fulfillment of Methods of Research Presented to the faculty of

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Tourism, Hotel, and Travel Industry Management

January 2007

The Researchers

Judimowatt dela Rama Ryazan Dalane Duray

Ria Elaine Martin Vanna Patricia Cruz

Arlene Cacao Michelle Severino

Mrs. Nanette Rotairo Thesis Adviser

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Table of Contents Page Abstract 1 Chapter I

Introduction 4 Statement of the Problem 6 Objective of the Study 6 Hypothesis 7 Significance of the Study 8 Scope and Delimitation 9 Conceptual Frameworks 10 Tourism conceptual framework 11 Definition of Terms 12

Chapter II

Review on Related Literature 16 Tourism 16 Ecotourism 21 Protected Areas 32 El Nido Profile 39 Government Organization 55 Non-Government Organization 56 Review on Related Studies Foreign studies 59 Local Studies 64

Chapter III

Methodology 77 Collection of Data 77 Instruments of Collecting Data 78 Interview 78 Survey 79 Sample and Sampling Technique 80 Observation 81 Statistical Treatment of Data 82 Time Table 83

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Chapter IV

Results and Discussion 84 Survey results 84 Discussion of Ecotourism Development Impact 102

Technical 102 Social 105 Environmental 105 Political 106 Economic 110

Primary data key informants 111

Chapter V Conclusions and Recommendations summary of findings 112 Conclusion 113 Recommendation 115

Appendices Sample questionnaire Curriculum vitae PICTURES Picture 1: Map shows the immediate area of El Nido town and Bacuit Bay in Northern Palawan Picture 2: Map of El Nido town

TABLES

Table 1: Locals choice for El Nido's Development

Table 2: Tourist choice for El Nido's Development

Table 3: Locals’ Level of Awareness of the Need for Conservation of El Nido

Table 4: Awareness of the Locals in projects and programs of LGU

Table 5: Involvement of Locals in the programs of LGU

Table 6: Locals that are benefited from Ecotourism development

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Table 7: Locals affected by the Conservation Laws and Programs in El Nido

Table 8: Willingness of Locals to leave their traditional way of living for tourism

development

Table 9: Frequency of Visit of Tourist in El Nido

Table 10: Tourist Awareness that El Nido is a Protected Area

Table 11: Tourist willingness to pay for Conservation Fee

Table 12: Willingness of Tourist to Pay for Conservation

Table 13: Tourist Collecting Natural Souvenirs

Table 14: El Nido's need for Infrastructure as perceive by the Tourist

Table 15: El Nido's need for Superstructure development as perceive by the Tourist

FIGURES

Figure 1: Percentage of Locals choice for El Nido’s Development

Figure 2: Percentage of Tourists choice for El Nido's Development

Figure 3: Percentage of Locals Awareness of the need for Conservation in El Nido

Figure 4: Percentage of the locals’ awareness in projects and programs of LGU

Figure 5: Percentage of Involvement of Locals in the programs of LGU

Figure 6: Percentage of Locals that are benefited from the Ecotourism Development

Figure 7:Percentage of Locals affected by the Conservation Laws and Programs in El

NIdo

Figure 8: Percentage of Locals to leave their traditional way of living for Tourism

development

Figure 9: Percentage of Frequency of Tourist's Visit in El Nido

Figure 10: Percentage of Tourist Purpose of Visit in El Nido

Figure 11: Percentage of Tourist's Awareness that El Nido is a Protected Area

Figure 12: Percentage of Tourist willingness to pay for Conservation Fee

Figure 13: Percentage of Amount of the Tourist willing to pay for Conservation Fee

Figure 14: Percentage Of Tourist Activities

Figure 15: Percentage of Tourist Collecting Natural Souvenirs

Figure 16: Percentage of the need for Development in Infrastructure perceived by the

tourist.

Figure 17: Percentage of need of development in El Nido in Superstructure as percieve

by the Tourist

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Abstract

The impact of tourism in a protected area has been the subject of recent concern.

According to the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR) 2002, tourism in the Philippines contributes about 9 percent of the Gross

Domestic Product (GDP) and generates about 5 million jobs.

Therefore, to be able to make the industry sustainable, developments are to be made

and are to be monitored. The researchers then target to assess the impact of ecotourism

development in the town of El Nido, Palawan. One of the objectives of this research is to know

the negative and positive factors of development, and proposes measures that would eventually

reduce the negative impacts. Different methods and designs were used in collection of data.

Interviews and surveys were conducted in order to get the appropriate data that the researchers

need for the accomplishment of the study.

Knowing the impacts of development of ecotourism in El Nido is indeed very significant

not only for the researchers but also for the Government agencies such as the Department of

Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the local government

concerned. It is also important for the educational institution and for the future researchers.

The Scope of the study is mainly the different aspect of Ecotourism and the relationships

of each component. The respondents of the study are primarily the locals and the tourists of El

Nido. The seven-month period of the study was conducted from June 2006 up to January 2007.

The descriptive method was used to utilize the thesis and various methods of gathering

information were chiefly normative survey technique to gather data from the locals and tourists of

El Nido that serve as the vital information for the study. Interview was conducted to the key

informants involved for the conservation and facilitation of El Nido. Observation was also used to

evaluate and experience the ecotourism itself in El Nido.

For gathering secondary data, the library and internet research was used to source out

information and data from different clippings, and other supporting documents.

The statement of the problem in the thesis: “What are the impacts of ecotourism modernization in

the town of El Nido, Palawan?”

Out of 50 local respondents for the, 100% are aware that El Nido is a protected area.

Seventy two percent of the local respondents are pro conservation, 18% are pro development

and 10% answered both.

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Out of 50 respondents of the tourists, 68% of them are aware that El Nido is a protected

area while 32 % are not aware of it. As for their stand whether they are pro development or pro

conservation, 68% are pro conservation and 32% are pro development.

The four factors that were affected by the ecotourism development are the technical,

social, environmental, and economic factors were also discussed in the thesis. On the other

hand, the laws, policies and rules and regulations is considered as one of the causes of the

conservation and guide for development of El Nido town. Each aspect has a pro and cons in

respect to ecotourism perspective wherein the combination of these aspects depicts the holistic

impact of ecotourism in El Nido.

Technical factor discusses the infrastructure and superstructure within El Nido and how it

contributes to the ecotourism of the municipality. Social factor is concerning about the culture and

the way of living of the people of El Nido. Environmental factor discusses about the effects of

ecotourism development in biodiversity (marine and terrestrial) of El Nido. Economic factor

discusses about the distribution of all the supply in parallel to the demands of the people in El

Nido. The laws, policies and rules and regulation part is the presentation of different laws, rules

and regulations governing environmental preservation of El Nido.

This approach drew the attention to the importance of ecotourism as well as maintaining

the natural resources through proper conservation management and proper tourism development

to achieve sustainable improvement.

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CHAPTER I

Introduction

The Philippines is a tropical country and home to many life forms that can survive its

tropical climate. Among the 7,107 islands in the archipelago, Palawan is blessed with the richest

natural biodiversity, making it the sanctuary of natural biodiversity in the Philippines.

Picture 2 Map shows the immediate area of El Nido town and Bacuit Bay in Northern Palawan.

In the Northern part of Palawan

Island is located a municipality named EL

NIDO. This magnificent place hides

captivating sceneries that will give you a

glimpse of paradise. El Nido has six kinds

of ecosystem. One of these are forests,

home to six species of large terrestrial

mammals endemic to the Palawan faunal region. It has 16 species of birds endemic to Palawan,

ten of which are considered threatened. Due to the topographical location of El Nido, it is

considered as a sanctuary to myriads of marine species and most of them are endemic to the

region. This place has a rich biodiversity, from its beautiful shores up to the range of its virgin

forests. El Nido’s rich flora and fauna attract local and foreign tourists, paving the way to

developing the area into a major ecological tourist spot. Government and private institutions are

working hand-in-hand with one goal — to preserve the Philippines’ last ecological frontier.

The main sources of livelihood in El Nido are fishing, commercial logging, and agriculture.

This source of livelihood serves as a gateway to human exploitation of natural resources.

Another means of livelihood is the Tourism sector, because of constant exposure and its

growing popularity, however, foreign, as well as local developers saw El Nido as a potential

tourist hub. Different tourism establishments, infrastructures and superstructures were built for

the convenience of tourists. Soon, El Nido’s tourism flourished and became a thriving economic

sector in Palawan.

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Statement of the problem:

This research is made to answer the following question:

• What are the impacts of ecotourism development in the town of El Nido?

From this question, the researchers came up with the following sub questions:

• What are the positive and negative effects of ecotourism modernization in the

town of El Nido?

• How will ecotourism modernization affect the town and its inhabitants?

• How will El Nido, Palawan maintain its pristine ecological condition while striving

for modernization?

• How did the Ecotourism in El Nido affect the economic lifestyle of the place?

Objective of the Study:

• To know more about the present condition of one of the Philippine’s World class

Ecotourism destination, El Nido, Palawan.

• To identify the positive and negative part of ecotourism development in El Nido town.

• To determine the issues concerning El Nido’s protected areas with respect to ecotourism modernization

• To find out plans and strategies for preserving El Nido’s rich natural resources and at the

same time developing ecotourism.

Hypothesis

Based on the statement of the problem of this research, “What are the impacts of

Ecotourism Development in the Town of El Nido?”, the researchers made assumptions on both

positive and negative impacts of ecotourism development. These assumptions are as follows:

• Economic improvement in the town.

• Generation of local jobs.

• El Nido will be known to the world as an ecotourism spot which will attracts more

tourists, especially those who are nature-lovers, thus, protecting the environment

and promoting conservation to make it sustainable.

• Degradation of natural resources and negative impact on the environment might

occur.

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• Population growth

• Over exploitation of biodiversity.

• Poor Waste management / disposal

Significance of the Study

The study will be of help to the following agencies and entities:

• The Researchers – to be able to apply what they have learned, as well as recognize the

value of ecotourism and biodiversity in the country’s tourism industry.

• Department of Tourism - for future planning, budget allocation, and development of the

“protected areas” such as El Nido, Palawan; and for promotion of ecotourism spot

• Philippine Tourism Authority – for the development and monitoring of priority areas such as

El Nido, Palawan, as well as for promoting tourism areas to generate revenues to fund

national and corporate development;

• Local Government Unit of Municipality of El Nido- for them to know the current impact of

ecotourism to serve as one of their basis in evaluating the town’s development.

• Non-Governmental Organizations- this study will help them to come up wider view for

analyzing the impacts of ecotourism in line with their primary concern, which is the

environment.

• Tourism Education – for its contribution to the improvement of travel research methods.

Institutions of higher learning, particularly universities with departments of hotel and

restaurant management, hospitality management, and tourism, have a vital need for such

information. Some educational organizations are concerned with the teaching of tourism

and related subjects, and need the most current available research findings to help them in

effectively teaching the subject;

• Future Researchers – to serve as a source for secondary data for their thesis.

Scope and Delimitation

This study was conducted and focused on the town of El Nido, Palawan specifically in

Barangay Maligaya, Buena Suerte, and Masagana. The researchers’ study was limited to the

effects of ecotourism development in the town of El Nido. The researchers limited the study on

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the four aspects that are to be considered in ecotourism (e.g. technical, social, environmental,

and economic).

The technical aspect of the study was focused in El Nido’s infrastructure and

superstructure in related to their tourism activities. The social aspect of the study was mainly

concerned in El Nido’s cultural heritage and the effect of ecotourism on the town’s populace,

since their task is to keep the area preserved. The environmental aspect is limited to the different

issues concerning the environmental condition of the El Nido town. The study did not delve into

the topic of biodiversity with respect to the different species found in the area, as it is beyond the

scope and purpose of this study. To understand more about the environmental concerns, the

study goes in depth to analyze governmental laws and policies that administer El Nido as a

Protected Area. The last factor that the researchers considered was the economic aspect of El

Nido town restricted to the description of supply, demand and price. The researchers observed

and immersed to come up with a reliable input in this study.

Interviews and surveys were limited to tourists, the local townsfolk, and organizations

involve in ecotourism development and protected area conservation. (e.g., biodiversity)

The study was conducted from the month of July 2006 to January 2007.

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Conceptual Framework

Study’s Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

As expressed in figure 1, the Input-Process-Output (IPO) of the study depicts the actions planned, the process they have to undergo to be able to come up with good outcomes that aim to have sustainable development not only to the physical development but also for nature’s preservation of El Nido.

Government and NGOs assistance

Guidelines/ standard measures

Promotion

Volunteering

Communicating with different potential sponsors

Preparation of Appropriate guidelines and standards for tourism development Promotion of programs and strategies Supporting seminars of LGUs in conservation and ecotourism promotion

Sustainable Development Sustainable Development of Ecotourism in El Nido Well managed tourism promotion and development Biodiversity conservation

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.Tourism conceptual framework Source: Mathieson and Wall

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The conceptual framework above (figure 2) shows the flow of tourism. The three elements such

as the dynamic, static, and consequential elements work in a circular movement. The dynamic

element, which includes the demand of tourists, would later create forms of tourism. From this

element, the static element would follow creating tourist destination, pressure generation, and the

carrying capacity. Characteristics affecting these three are the characteristics of the tourist

discussing the duration of stay, type of tourist activity, level of usage, level of satisfaction, and the

socio economic characteristics. The destination characteristics discussing the environmental

processes, economic structure, political organization, level of tourist development and socio

structure and organization.

All the Static Elements creates the impact of tourism that is considered to be a part of

consequential elements of tourism. These impacts of tourism has a direct effect on the economic,

physical and social aspect, that eventually must have an impact control in terms of financing,

imposing management strategies policy, providing carrying capacity guidelines and giving

engineering controls.

Thus, after this cycle the demand will start again and the cycle will go all over again.

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Definition of terms

Biodiversity - The variability among living organisms on the earth, including the variability within

and between species and ecosystems.

Conservation – refers to the wise use of natural resources that assures regeneration and

replenishment for continuous benefit

Conversational - An informal discussion of a matter by representatives of governments,

institutions, or organizations.

Core zone - This area shall be designated free from any human activity. This includes

sanctuaries for rare and endangered species, selected coral reefs, sea grass and mangrove

ecosystem reserves.

Diversity - the presence of a wide range of variation in the qualities or attributes under

discussion.

Ecosystem - a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical

environment.

Ecotourism - Tourism involving travel to areas of natural or ecological interest, typically under

the guidance of a naturalist, for the purpose of observing wildlife and learning about the

environment.

Endemicity - natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous

Environment – all aspect of the surroundings of human being cultural, natural, and man-made,

whether affecting human beings as individuals or in social group.

Globalization - To make global or worldwide in scope or application.

Heterogeneous - consisting of elements that are not of the same kind or nature.

Holocene - Of or belonging to the geologic time, rock series, or sedimentary deposits of the more

recent of the two epochs of the Quaternary Period, beginning at the end of the last Ice Age about

11,000 years ago and characterized by the development of human civilizations.

Impact - the striking of one thing against another

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Infrastructure – the facilities, equipment, and installations needed for the basic functioning and

daily lives of the residents of a region. This includes communication systems, water and sewage

facilities, public protection, and health, transportation, and education systems.

Development - To accept or adopt modern ways, ideas, or style; development in terms of

physical, social, environmental and economic aspect.

Mortality - The rate of failure or loss.

Multiple use zone - Aside from being development area, this zone also serves as the buffer zone

where fishery, mariculture, recreation, rehabilitation of small islands and mangrove ecosystem

education and research are allowed.

Natural resources - refers to life-support systems such as the sea, coral reefs, soil, lakes,

rivers, and forest as well as useful products found therein such as animals, wildlife, tress and

other plants, including the aesthetic attributes of scenic sites that are not manmade.

Preserved - An area maintained for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.

Protected Area - as defined by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) an area of land and/or sea

especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and

associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.

Reservoir - a natural or artificial place where water is collected and stored for use, esp. water for

supplying a community, irrigating land, furnishing power, etc.

Sustainability - configuring civilization and human activity so that society and its members are

able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving

biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and planning and acting for the ability to maintain these

ideals indefinitely.

Superstructure – the facilities and equipment needed to meet the particular needs of the visitors

to a region. These include accommodation and food services, visitor information and services,

tourism attractions, special events, supplementary transportation, and special education and

training programs for front-line staff and industry managers.

Species - A fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or

subgenus and consisting of related organisms capable of interbreeding.

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Terrestrial - the terrestrial component shall consist of the mountainous as well as ecologically

important low hills and lowland areas of the whole province. It may be further subdivided into

smaller management components.

Tourism - Hunziker and Krapf, in 1942, defined Tourism as, "Tourism is the totality of the

relationship and phenomenon arising from the travel and stay of strangers, provided that the stay

does not imply the establishment of a permanent residence and is not connected with a

remunerative activitie

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CHAPTER II

Review on Related Literature

Tourism

Early explorers, traders, and shippers laid the groundwork upon which our modern age of travel is

based. Human needs to arrange trips and facilitate movements have not changed over the ages: building

roads, vehicles, and ship providing overnight rest accommodations go back into antiquity. The brave

explorers who went into the unknown made available to their contemporaries of knowledge of what world

was really like.

Over the centuries, invention such as the sandglass to measure time, the “log” line to measure

distance, and the compass to gauge direction made possible successful sea exploration. The roads of

early Persia and those of the Roman Empire were used for exploration, for military purposes, for

transporting tribute, and for pleasure trips and recreation.

Subsequent inventions of better roads, stagecoaches, passenger railroads, passenger ships,

automobiles, motor coaches, and airplanes created an ever-speedier and more pleasant means of travel.

Hotels and inns became more commodious and comfortable, with the added convenience of location,

services, and appointments. 1

What is tourism?

The World Tourism Orhanization (WTO) has taken the concept of tourism beyond a stereotypical

image of “holiday-making.” The officially accepted definition is: “tourism comprises the activities of

persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one

consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.” The term usual environment is intended to

exclude trips within the area of usual residence and frequent and regular trips between the domicile and

the work place and other community trips of a routine character.2

Tourism Components and Supply

Tourism supply and components are classified into four broad categories wherein the

development of these can be called a modernization.

1 Charles R. Goeldner, J.R. Brent Ritchie, Robert W. McIntosh, Tourism Principles, Practices, Philosophies 8TH Edition, 2000, p65 2 Charles R. Goeldner, J.R. Brent Ritchie, Robert W. McIntosh, Tourism Principles, Practices, Philosophies 8TH Edition, 2000, p16

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Natural resources and Environment – this category constitutes the fundamental measure of

supply – the natural resources that any area has available for the use and enjoyment of visitors. Basic

elements in this category include air and climate, physiography of the region, landforms, terrain, flora,

fauna, bodies of water, beaches, natural beauty, and water supply for drinking, sanitation, and similar

uses.

The Built Environment – this includes the infrastructure and superstructure. This component has

been developed within or upon the natural environment. One of the most base elements of the built

environment is the infrastructure of the region that consist of all the underground and surface

developmental construction such as water supply system, sewage disposal systems, gas lines, electrical

lines, drainage systems, roads, communications networks, and many commercial facilities. The tourism

superstructure includes facilities constructed primarily to support visitations and visitors activities.

Primary examples are airports, railroads, roads, drives, parking lots, parks, hotels, motels, restaurants,

and shopping centers, places of entertainment, museums, stores and similar structures. For the most

part, the operating sectors of industry are part of the environment and provide much of the superstructure

or facilitate access to the physical supply.3

Transportation – included are items such as ships, airplanes, trains, buses, limousines, taxis,

automobiles, cog railroads, aerial tramways, and similar passenger transportation facilities. Because

nothing happens until someone leaves home, transportation is a critical component. Without

transportation, the tourist world will be unable to reach and enjoy the natural and built environment. So

this component is given attention.

Hospitality and Cultural Resources – pervading all of the four going physical element of the built

infrastructure and superstructure is the social foundation of destination – it’s culture, which consist of the

language, custom and religions of the residence of the region, as well as their work and leisure related

behaviors. It is the people of the cultural wealth of an area that makes possible the successful hosting of

tourists. Examples are the tourist business employee welcoming spirit “aloha” in Hawaii, attitude of

residence towards visitors, courtesy, friendliness, sincere interest, willingness to serve and to get better

acquainted visitors, and other manifestation of warmth and friendliness. In addition, the cultural resources

of any area are included here: fine arts, literature, history, music, dramatic art, dancing, shopping, sports,

and other activities.

3 Charles R. Goeldner, J.R. Brent Ritchie, Robert W. McIntosh, Tourism Principles, Practices, Philosophies 8TH Edition, 2000, p365

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There is a wide range of tourist resources created by combining cultural resources. Such examples would

be sports events and facilities, traditional or national festivals, games, and pageants.4

Tourism and consumerism

Tourism is inexorably linked to consumerism, a constituent of what Vance Packard in The Hidden

Persuaders (1956) negatively termed ‘consumer society’. Bayley (1991:47) relates the history of the word

‘consumer’ to the development of Western economy. He notes:

Mass production and all that it entails – investment, long lead times, low unit costs and ready

availability – replaced a system where simple makers could articulate and satisfy needs; the new

distant customers alienated from the production process became consumers.

How easy it is to apply this to contemporary tourism. However, this is no more a criticism of how

people choose to spend their holidays than complaining about traffic jams is a criticism of those who

choose to drive to work rather than use public transportation. The point is that concern is not so much

directed at individual consumers (who according to age and chance of birthplace, might well have been

educated and socialized into the role of passive consumer) but rather towards the global web of

advertising, reservation systems and buying power that empowers the multinationals in their ‘rational’

maneuvering towards product standardization and the ‘rationality’ of global markets (the reference to

rational and rationality intended as irony). It is no coincidence that along with hyperinflation and

unemployment, McDonald’s franchise (termed McGulag Archipelago by Tim Luke in Ritzer, 1993:131)

became the overpowering cultural and economic icon for what Reagan/Bush called the ‘New World

Order’ (for a brief but important note on this phrase see MacCannel, 1992:309). Thus we see that the

variables which influence choices for individual consumers (a phrase that is becoming increasingly

meaningless in the age of ‘Hypermall’) aredefined not only by what the producers (or more likely their

corporate accounts) feel is more efficient to sell us, but also by complex life-motivators that define

postmodern living. Choices, then, are so bound up in consumerism and bound to the ‘born to shop’

mentally that perhaps psychoanalysis is a better tool than reprehension in coming to terms with (or

analyzing) global consumer trends.

The root of this type of global consumerism is traced by Bayley (1991:52) to Prince Albert’s Great

Exhibition of 1851 which was: ‘a primal media event, it suggested the entire world was available for

consumption’. George Ritzer, in his McDonaldization of Society (1993:129) strikes a more sinister note by

claiming that ‘whole industries are now in the business of producing and marketing unreality. Indeed,

much of the McDonaldized society is involved in the production of a wide range of unrealities’. While

4 Charles R. Goeldner, J.R. Brent Ritchie, Robert W. McIntosh, Tourism Principles, Practices, Philosophies 8TH Edition, 2000, p366

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theses remarks are made in relation to synthetic food we can see that metatourism, as we term it, and of

which the modern package tour is a major component, is an example par excellence. Another driving

force for global tourism is that of nostalgia of one sort or another, with Roland Robertson (1992:46)

suggesting the idea of the ‘nostalgic paradigm’, and in the context of his concerns over global dynamics

and global significance, warns us of the dangers of oversimplifying our analysis of nostalgia. However, as

Urry (1990:106) reminds us, even this becomes part of the cash nexus. In discussing the privatization of

Britain’s museum sector he notes that this: ‘has inspired particularly new ways of representing history, as

commodifying the past.

. . There is little doubt that similar developments are taking place in many industrialized countries’ (our

italics). He continues by saying of the United States that ‘the trappings of history now festoon the whole

country’.

It can be seen from the foregoing that tourism is not so much about sustains as it is about being a

major part of the globalization of culture, and that while it provides income and enjoyment for millions, the

pleasure and leisure aspects should not form a protective sheath over its dichotomies and paradoxes.

Those who study tourism should not merely concern themselves only with that which is business or that

which is easily quantifiable. While such an approach may provide a mask of respectability for tourism

studies in a world dominated by quantitative method, neglect of the qualitative issues will inevitably lead

to a poorer tourism product for both the hosts and guests. 5

Protected Areas and Tourism

Many countries consider tourism a viable industry, which enhances the standard of living through

improved public infrastructure (e.g., roads and commercial establishments) and services (e.g., domestic

water, electricity, transport and entertainment). The contribution of the tourism industry to economic

growth includes increased employment, income, tax revenues. While tourism provides economic benefits,

it also often causes environmental and cultural damage at tourist destination sites. The direct economic

value from tourism is less than the total economic value of biodiversity. (Pearce and Moran 1994). 6

Linking Tourism and Biodiversity

5 Peter Burns, Andrew Holden, Tourism: A New Perspective, pp 11-13 6 Corazon Catibog-Sinha, Lawrence Heaney, Philippine Biodiversity: Principles and Practice, Haribon Studio

Graphics, Philippines, 2006, p382

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Biodiversity is a major attraction in the nature of tourism. Budowski (1976) was one of the early

proponents of the notion of “symbiosis” between tourism and nature conservation. In such symbiosis,

mutual reliance on each other for sustainability depends on the recognition that nature is the biological

lifeline of tourism and that tourism can be a tool for conservation and enhancement of the quality of

human life.7

ECOTOURISM

Community Based Sustainable Development

The Exact meaning of Ecotourism is still in the process of the Evolution as it is relatively a new

idea meaning many things to many people. Ecotourism is one of the most popular buzz in the world in

the 90’s and yet in the words of Karen Ziffer of Conservation International, it has “eluded fine definition

because it is a complex notion which ambitiously attempts to describe an activity, set forth a philosophy

and espouse a model of development.” Ecotourism is not the same as people turning to the environment,

but rather an “ethic” of how to turn to the natural environment and a way of doing it.

There are classical definitions of ecotourism. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) state that ecotourism “involves traveling to relatively

undisturbed natural areas with the specific object of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its

wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects found in that areas.”

The ecotourism Society’s definition of ecotourism is “purposeful travel to natural areas to

understand the culture and history of the environment taking care not to alter the integrity of ecosystem

while producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to

local people.”

Ecotourism, as the Pacific Asia Travel Association inspired primarily by the natural history of an

area, including its indigenous cultures. The ecotourists visits relatively underdeveloped areas in the spirit

of appreciation, participation and sensitivity. The ecotourists practices a non consumptive use of wildlife

and natural resources and contributes to the visited area through labor or financial means aimed at

directly benefiting the conservations issues in general, and the pacific needs of the locals. Ecotourism

also implies a managed approach by the host country or region which commits itself to establishing and

maintaining the site with the participation of local residents, marketing them appropriately, enforcing

7 Corazon Catibog-Sinha, Lawrence Heaney, Philippine Biodiversity: Principles and Practice, Haribon Studio

Graphics, Philippines, 2006, p383

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regulations, and using the proceeds of the enterprise to fund the area’s land management as well as

community development.”

On December 6-7, 1994, the Development of Environment and Natural Resources and the

Philippines Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development

(PCARRD) and representatives from several concerned non-government organizations (NGOs) and other

government agencies convened in a workshop in Los Banos, Laguna and came up with the definition of

ecotourism in the Philippine Setting with reads:

“Ecotourism is an environmentally sound tourism activity in a given ecosystem yielding socio

economic benefits and enhancing natural and cultural diversity conservation.”

In summary, Ecotourism is traveling with particular attention to nature’s wonders and leaving

them as u found them.

But whatever you may wish to call it Green Tourism, Nature Tourism, Responsible Tourism,

Ecologically or Environmentally-sound/ sensitive/ friendly tourism- it is basically tourism that contributes to

the conservation of the world’s natural resources and cultural heritage through minimum environmental

stress and sustainable development.

In its purest sense, ecotourism denotes tourism that is environmentally, culturally and socially

aware, that is responsible and sustainable.

Ecotourism has two pronged-impacts on biodiversity conservation. Firstly, it promotes the need to

conserve biodiversity. Exposing people to the current situation of the environment increases the livelihood

of developing, concern towards environmental amenities. Their experience as ecotourists would likely

deepen their appreciation and awareness of the need to promote conservation values and mutual

understanding of biodiversity (Thanupon 2002). With the increase awareness and knowledge, people

could easily develop a deep sense of responsibility towards environmental preservation, which in turn

increases the livelihood that they would actively participate in conservation endeavors. Secondly,

ecotourism plays a particularly important role in creating jobs in remote regions that historically have

benefited less from economic development programs than have more populous areas. Even a smaller

number of jobs may be significant in communities where populations are low and alternatives are few

(Lindburg 1996). This Economic impact can increase political and financial support for biodiversity

conservation. 8

8 Bagarinao, Ricardo T., Ecoturism: A tool for enhancing biodiversity conservation, “Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism: Subjects, Theories, and external pressures, Los Baños: University of the Philippines, 2003 p7

24

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN ECOTOURISM

Ecotourism will not be meaningful if important factors are not taken into account. There are other

reasons aside from those attributable to the market. Destinations also play an important part in the

growth of ecotourism. If these factors are absent or degraded, interest will diminish and the attraction of

the destinations will also decrease.

Environment

Biodiversity – the Philippines is host to numerous species of the plant and animal life, a number in

which are endemic to the country. The number and the endemicity of plants and animal in African

countries like Belize and Madagascar have been a major drawer of nature lovers. The survival remaining

life in these areas largely depends on the management of the resources with ecotourism as the lead

industry.

Aesthetic Value – much of the basis for development in many areas is hinged on the aesthetic

value found in the destinations. Switzerland attracts thousands of visitors because of the Swiss Alps.

Tagaytay in the Philippines boast of the view of Taal Lake and the Volcano Island. The Banaue Rice

Terraces offer unique vista found only in the Philippine.

Existing Resources – a large part of the tourist expenditure goes to consumption of local

resources. Also, the kid of food served to the tourists, whether fancy or simple, local or exotic, may affect

the environment through production.

Physical Environment – this is the major component of ecotourism. Any impact to the physical

environment, like land, water and the coastal area, will ultimately affect the living creatures that

particularly ecosystem, affects its quality or pollute it.

Other Industries – like tourism, other tourism also affect the environment. Sometimes the impacts

are far from than that of tourisms. Also, other industries directly or indirectly compete with tourism in the

utilization of resources and space. There are issues in the Philippines that are cement factories are built

near tourism development areas. Power plants are also built in mountains where ecotourism is either

very active pursued or has good potential for growth.

Weather – tourism patterns are directly by the weather patterns either in market countries or

destinations areas. The cycle also affects the demand for resources. One good thing about ecotourism

is that some activities can be done even during bad weather condition or lean tourist seasons. This

situation can bring longer economic benefits in the destinations areas and increase their annual carrying

capacity.

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Environmental Law – any development that would involve resources extraction and utilization

must conform with the consisting environmental laws particularly the national integrated protected areas

system (NIPAS) and the environmental impact assessment (EIA) system which is under the Department

of environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Government Policies – no matter how dynamic tourism is, it is still subject to the policy focus of the

government agencies directly and indirectly involved in the development of tourism. Particular agencies

are the DOT and the DENR. The current and the significant output by said government agencies is the

joint memorandum circular on ecotourism development guidelines in the Philippines.

Culture

Indigenous tribes – with ecotourism tours, the most sought-group of the people are the

indigenous tribes found only in far away places or unique habitats. Yet this people are often the

marginalized and exploited sector in the societies. Tourism must involve itself in protecting their rights

and preserving the culture.

Local customs and practices – each nations or destinations has its own set of customs and

practices. What may be ordinary in one area may be scandalous to another.

Cultural heritage – in any cultural destinations, the reason why tourism come would be the unique

cultural heritage of the people. Again, such cultures are subject to exploitations and degradation if

promoted or developed wrongly.

Local community – tourism benefits should ultimately accrue to the local community, especially

where said benefits can spell the difference between the exploitation and improvement of standard of life.

Operations

No matter how many conservation view it, ecotourism should still be treated like a business

enterprise requiring quality, as well as dependable and innovative ideas on facilities and services

operations. In which case it has to undergo the ff:

Research – to find out if a particular area is qualified for a type of sustainable ecotourism

program.

Consultation with the local communities and other individuals/organizations which may

stakeholders or important sources of ideas.

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Investment – may be physical, like infra and superstructure; and services, like guiding.

Marketing/Promotions

This is very important aspect of ecotourism development, because much of the success of the

program/destinations will depend on the effectiveness of the promotions. It may be done through the

usual printed materials, like brochures and posters or through publicity by using of media. Other effective

means of promotions are inviting potentials suppliers and participating in travel marts and similar fairs.

The Market

Determined the type of market that would be most appropriate to be invited to the program. Will it

be foreign or domestic tourists? Each type of activities requires an almost niche type of market. Should

the activities required be specific, they can be diversified to accommodate a wider range of market?

Cautions must also be exercised when developing areas for ecotourism, because not all ecotourists are

environmentally sensitive. Unfortunately, ecotourism also attracts less responsible people. Ecotourism

may also view it as their right to use resources for their tours.

Ecotourism in the Philippines

In the Philippines, tourism contributes about 9% of the Gross Domestic Product and generates

about 5 million jobs (DOT/DENR 2002). Tourism is considered one of the ways to increase economic

revenue, alleviate poverty, and improve infrastructure development. Unfortunately, some forms of tourism

are not only destructive to the natural environment but also to the social fabric of the society, such as

those based on sex workers and exploitation of children. An alternative form of tourism which is

encouraged in protected areas and ecologically sensitive area is called “ecotourism” or “sustainable

tourism”. The benign form of tourism is nature-based and supports biodiversity conservation, educates

tourists about conservation and provides them lasting nature-based experiences, and offers local

communities livelihood opportunities.9

9 Corazon Catibog-Sinha, Lawrence Heaney, Philippine Biodiversity: Principles and Practice, Haribon Studio

Graphics, Philippines, 2006, p384

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LAW, RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING ECOTOURISM, DEVELOPMENT IN

THE PHILIPPINES

From: Philippine Environmental Policy Guidelines for Ecotourism Investment/Development: A Guide to

BIMP- EAGA Onvestors

The department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the primary government agency

responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of country’s environment

and natural environment as mandated by Executive Order No. 192

A. BIODIVERSITY

The protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau PAWB) of the DENR is mandated to formulate policies, plans,

programs on the establishment and management of protected areas, conservation of biological diversity

and nature conservation and education. Below are the laws, rules and regulations governing biodiversity

conservation and ecotourism.

NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM (NIPAS Act) (R.A 77586 issued on June

1, 1992)

The law provides for the establishment and management of national integrated protected areas

system which focus on the outstanding remarkable areas and biologically important public lands that are

habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, bio-geographic zones and related

ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or marine.

The law also provides flexibility in the management of protected areas through the establishment of

management zones such as strict protection zone and multi-use zone, among others. Ecotourism

development such as nature trail establishment, constructions of visitor center and cottages, etc. are

allowed within the recreational zone including multiple-use zone and buffer zone, as maybe appropriate.

Community participation in the management/development of ecotourism sites is encouraged.

WLIDLIFE RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION ACT ( RA NO> 9147 issued July

b30, 2001)

The scope of application of the law include wildlife species in all areas including protected areas (RA

7586) and critical habitats and exotic species which are traded, cultured, maintained and/or bred in

captivity/propagated.

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The salient features of the act include the joint jurisdiction among DENR, DA and PCSD and provides

regulations in the collection/possession of wildlife and its by-products and derivates; local transport of

wildlife and its by-products or derivates; exportations and importations of wildlife; introduction, re-

introduction, and re-stocking of endemic and indigenous wildlife and commercial breeding/propagation.

The law also provides distinction between bio-prospective and basic wildlife scientific research;

specifies the kinds of wildlife permits to be issued by the secretary; strengthens the existing guidelines on

biosafety; establishes the National Wildlife Research Center Which lead in the conduct of wildlife scientific

studies. Authorizes the establishment/designation of WRC’ provides for the regulations of zoological and

botanical gardens and others similar facilities; create the Wildlife Traffic Monitoring officers; authorizes the

deputation of Wildlife enforcement officers; and prescribes the establishment of critical habitats outside

protected areas where threatened species are found.

It is also provides for the registration of threatened and exotic wildlife in the possession of private

person; provides for the adoption of flagship species by Local Government Units to serve as emblem of

conservation; enumerates the illegal acts which include activities destructive to wildlife resources and

their habitats; establishes a Wildlife management Fund for habitat rehabilitation or restoration and wildlife

scientific research enforcement and monitoring activities and enhancement of capabilities of relevant

agencies; and provides for tax exemption for donations, contributions, bequest, subsidies or financial aid

for wildlife conservation and protection.

NATIONAL CAVES AND CAVES RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION ACT (PA NO>

9072- April 8, 2001)

The DENR in coordination with the DOT takes lead in the promotion of caves classified for ecotourism

and in the cave visitor management in accordance with the Executive Order No. 111 (Establishing the

guidelines for Ecotourism Development in the Philippines ) and Joint DENR-DOT Memorandum Circular

No. 98-02 (Guidelines for Ecotourism Development in the Philippines)

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 111 “ ESTABLISHING THE GUIDELINES FOR ECOTOURISM

DEVELOPMENT IN THER PHILIPPINES “ ISSUED JUNE 17, 1999 AND NEDC RESOLUTION 2000-01

“ADOPTING THE OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR E.O 111”

The E.O established the institutional mechanism and framework for ecotourism development in

the Philippines . To enhance partnership from among wide range of individuals and organizations to work

together for ecotourism, it created a National ecotourism Development Council (NEDC), National

Ecotourism Steering Committee (NESC) and Regional Ecotourism Committee (RC) composed of

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representatives from different concerned government agencies, private sector and non-government

organization. It also provides economic incentives or accreditation program to support ecotourism

initiatives.

The Order also provide for the formulation of Ecotourism Strategies to set direction for the

ecotourism development in the Philippines . As defined in the implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)

of E.C no. 111, ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism within a natural and cultural heritage area

where community participation, protection and management of natural resources, culture and indigenous

knowledge and practices, environmental education and ethics as well as economic benefits are fostered

and pursued for the enrichment of host communities and satisfaction of visitors.

B. ENVIRONMENTAL

The environmental management bureau (EMB) of the department of environment and natural

resources (DENR) is specifically tasked to recommend rules and regulations for environment impact

assessment and provide technical assistance for their implementation and monitoring.

Presidential degree no. 1686 ( The Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System

Provides an effective planning, management and regulatory tool in addressing environmental

problems in our country specifically in assessing that development actions conforms with basic principles

of sustainable development. Section 4thereof explicitly requires “all agencies and instrumentalities of the

national government, including government-owned and controlled corporations, as well as private

corporations, firm and entities to prepare an environmental impact system (EIS) for every action, project

or undertaking which significantly affects the quality of the environment”.

It declared environmentally critical projects (ECPs) and projects within environmentally critical

areas (ECAs) as projects which require the submission of an environment impact system (EIS). Section 4

thereof provides that “No person, partnership or corporation shall undertake or operate such declared

ECP or project within an ECA without first securing Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)”. PD

1586 also identified the lead agency for the implementation of the EIS system and provides sanctions for

its violation.

The succeeding rules and regulations, procedure and requirements provided for under DAO 96-37

series 1997 and lately DAO 2003-30 series of 2003 made it possible for proponent of project having

negative impacts on the environment to implement these activities these activities in a sustainable and

environmentally friendly manner.

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DAO 2003-30 – Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Philippine Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) System

Consistent with the continuing effort of the department of environment and natural resources

(DENR) to rationalize and streamline the implementation of the Philippine Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) System established under Presidential Decree (PD) No.1586, Presidential proclamation

No. 2146 defining the scope of the EIS System and pursuant to administrative order No. 42 issued by the

Office of the President on November 2, 2002, the following rules and regulations are hereby promulgated:

PROTECTED AREAS

Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental, cultural

or similar value. A large number of kinds of protected area exist which vary by level of protection and by

the enabling laws of each country or rules of international organization.

A protected area as defined by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) is an area of land and/or sea

especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and

associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.

The IUCN specifies six categories of protected areas:

• I. Strict nature reserve/wilderness area: protected area managed mainly for science of wilderness

protection

• II. National park: protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation

• III. Natural monument: protected area managed mainly for conservation of specific natural

features

• IV. Habitat/Species Management Area: protected area managed mainly for conservation through

management intervention

• V. Protected Landscape/Seascape: protected area managed mainly for landscape/seascape

protection and recreation.

• VI. Managed Resource Protected Area: protected area managed mainly for the sustainable use

of natural ecosystems.

International commitments to the development of networks of protected areas date from 1972, when the

Stockholm Declaration from the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment endorsed the

protection of representative examples of all major ecosystem types as a fundamental requirement of

national conservation programs. Since then, the protection of representative ecosystems has become a

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core principle of conservation biology, supported by key United Nations resolutions - including the World

Charter for Nature 1982, the Rio Declaration 1992, and the Johannesburg Declaration 2002.Globally,

national programs for the protection of representative ecosystems have progressed with respect to

terrestrial environments, with less progress in marine and freshwater biomes.10

Biodiversity

Biodiversity has no single standard definition. The most straightforward definition is "variation of

life at all levels of biological organization"[3]. Another definition holds that biodiversity is a measure of the

relative diversity among organisms present in different ecosystems. "Diversity" in this definition includes

diversity within a species and among species, and comparative diversity among ecosystems.

A third definition that is often used by ecologists is the "totality of genes, species, and ecosystems

of a region". An advantage of this definition is that it seems to describe most circumstances and present a

unified view of the traditional three levels at which biodiversity has been identified.

Genetic diversity is the diversity of genes within a species. There is a genetic variability among the

populations and the individuals of the same species.

Species diversity is diversity among species in an ecosystem. "Biodiversity hotspots" are excellent

examples of species diversity.

Ecosystem diversity is about diversity at a higher level of organization, the ecosystem. To do with the

variety of ecosystems on Earth.

This third definition, which conforms to the traditional five organization layers in biology, provides

additional justification for multilevel approaches.

The 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro defined "biodiversity" as "the variability

among living organisms from all sources, including, 'inter alia', terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic

ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species,

between species and of ecosystems".

This is, in fact, the closest thing to a single legally accepted definition of biodiversity, since it is the

definition adopted by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The parties to this convention

include all the countries on Earth, with the exception of Andorra, Brunei Darussalam, the Holy See, Iraq,

Somalia, Timor-Leste, and the United States of America.

10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_area

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If the gene is the fundamental unit of natural selection, according to E. O. Wilson, the real

biodiversity is the genetic diversity. For geneticists, biodiversity is the diversity of genes and organisms.

They study processes such as mutations, gene exchanges, and genome dynamics that occur at the DNA

level and generate evolution.

For biologists, biodiversity is the gamut of organisms and species and their interactions.

Organisms appear and become extinct; sites are colonized and some species develop social

organizations to improve their varied strategies of reproduction.

For ecologists, biodiversity is also the diversity of durable interactions among species. It not only

applies to species, but also to their immediate environment (biotope) and their larger eco-region. In each

ecosystem, living organisms are part of a whole, interacting with not only other organisms, but also with

the air, water, and soil that surround them.

Biodiversity is a broad concept, so a variety of objective measures have been created in order to

empirically measure biodiversity. Each measure of biodiversity relates to a particular use of the data.

For practical conservationists, this measure should quantify a value that is broadly shared among

locally affected people. For others, a more economically defensible definition should allow the ensuring of

continued possibilities for both adaptation and future use by people, assuring environmental

sustainability.

As a consequence, biologists argue that this measure is likely to be associated with the variety of

genes. Since it cannot always be said which genes are more likely to prove beneficial, the best choice for

conservation is to assure the persistence of as many genes as possible. For ecologists, this latter

approach is sometimes considered too restrictive, as it prohibits ecological succession.

Biodiversity is usually plotted as taxonomic richness of a geographic area, with some reference to

a temporal scale. Whittaker described three common metrics used to measure species-level biodiversity,

encompassing attention to species richness or species evenness:

Biodiversity has contributed in many ways to the development of human culture, and, in turn,

human communities have played a major role in shaping the diversity of nature at the genetic, species,

and ecological levels.

Biodiversity is what underlies many important ecological goods and services that provide benefits

to humans.

There are three main reasons commonly cited in the literature for the benefits of biodiversity.

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Focus on biodiversity and Management

From Suhay Magazine MAIDEN ISSUE, 1995

Why is NIPAP so interested in the biodiversity of such areas as the El Nido Marine Reserve in

Palawan, Mt. Isarog National Park in Camarines Sur, and Mt. Guiting-guiting in Romblon? Because

biodiversity is a fundamental law of nature; human life is dependent on nature, and man must obey the

fundamental laws of nature by managing the natural resources well: if he does not, there cannot be any

sustained utilization of resources, and so he deprives himself and future generations

NIPAP begins with NIPAS, the former deriving from the latter. NIPAP is the National Integrated

Protected Areas Programme (NIPAP) and NIPAS is the National Integrated Protected Areas System.

NIPAP’s goal is to operationalise NIPAS; it is important to appreciate this relationship.

NIPAS

Republic Act 7586, signed into law by President Corazon Aquino on June 01, 1992, provided for

“the establishment and management of a National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)

“Protected areas” are “portions of land and water set aside by (law for) reason of their unique

physical and biological significance”. These are natural habitats. These areas are meant to be “managed

to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation.”

The NIPAS Act identifies eight specific categories of protected areas are as follows

1. Strict nature reserves;

2. Natural parks;

3. Natural monuments;

4. Wildlife sanctuaries;

5. Protected landscapes and seascapes;

6. Resource reserves;

7. Natural biotic areas; and

8. Other categories established by law, conventions or international agreements which the

Philippine Government is a signatory to.

NIPAP

NIPAP is a special project of Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) with

funding and assistance from European Union (EU). The financing memorandum (FM) for NIPAP was

34

signed by the EU and the Government of the Philippines (GOP) on May 30, 1995. As a project, the

overall objective of NIPAP is “to help protect, conserve and manage forest biodiversity areas with

endangered endemic species in eight Protected Areas (Pas) at various sites through out the Philippines.”

Its specific objectives are to:

1. Protect biodiversity;

2. Ensure sustainable management;

3. Enhance the capability of DENR staff and local communities to take over and maintain the

policies and facilities introduced by the project;

4. Develop and maintain the natural resources for ecological benefits they provide;

5. Increase the wise use of natural resources;

6. Enforce the law and help stop all illegal activities;

7. Create public awareness of the need of protecting biodiversity; and

8. Help ensure that the rights of indigenous communities are respected and that the gender issues

are given due attention.

NIPAP Components

NIPAP has the following eight components.

1. Geographic Information System GIS and Integrated Data Base (IDB). The GIS and IDB will

provide the necessary data in a usuable format to facilitate the identification of the boundaries of

the Pas and the different management zones, and assist in the review and revision of land

allocation.

2. Socio Economic Surveys. These are detailed surveys (RRAs and Baseline) of communities living

in and around Pas, the output of which will provide bases for consultations.

3. General management Plan (GMP) for each Protected Area. The GMP must be consistent with the

NIPAS Act. The plans should also be regularly updated.

4. Delineation and Demarcation of Protected Area Boundaries. Boundaries and buffer zone should

be delineated and demarcated for effective management of the areas. The work should be done

in close cooperation with the local communities.

5. Alternative Economic Activities. Promotion of alternative economic activities will reduce pressure

on PA as a resource. NIPAP will coordinate with funding sources to encourage such activities in

the buffer zones, including the provision of health, sanitation and other rural services.

6. Sustainability of PA Management and Consultation Mechanism. NIPAP should see to it that PA

management is sustainable and provide training and advice at all levels. The sources of

managerial talents are the local communities. LGUs, NGOs and fieldsmen of the DENR.

35

7. Biodiversity Protection. NIPAP should help ensure that communities in and around the PAs

appreciate the importance of biodiversity conversation of sustainable resource management.

8. Facilities and technical inputs – NIPAP will provide the necessary facilities and technical inputs

for overall planning, operation and management of each of the eight PAs.

EL NIDO PROFILE

I. HISTORY

The town was formerly called Bacuit during the Spanish occupation. Bacuit was a barrio of the

Municipality of Taytay and was formerly known as Talindoc since its inception in 1892. Its first barrio

captain was Mariano Castro and among its founders were Esteban de Castro, Mariano Rios and

Guillermo Merelio. It became a regular municipality in 1916.

Chinese traders visited the Calamianes Island and Northern Palawan, including Bacuit long

before the Spaniard came. Its edible nests were very popular among the Chinese traders then and now.

Its cliffs have been mentioned in Chinese narratives as early as 1209. Bacuit was renamed later thru

Republic Act 1140 in 1954 after the rate species of the swallow called Swift or Nido (Colocalin Fucifhaga)

which produces edible birds’ nest, a delicacy of the Chinese.

El Nido today is noted for its beautifully striking cliffs, rolling hills, exotic beaches and rivers lined

with nipa palm.

II. POLITICAL SUBDIVISION

The municipality is composed of 18 barangays namely Aberawan, Bagong Bayan, Barotuan,

Buena Suerte, Bucana, Bebeladan, Corong-Corong, Mabini, Maligaya, Manlag, Masagana, New Ibajay,

Pasadena, San Fernando, Sibaltan, Teneguiban, Villa Libertad and Villa Paz. Barangays Buena Suerte,

Corong-Corong, Maligaya and Masagana are the four barangays that compose the Poblacion. Barangay

Mabini has the largest land area while Barangay Maligaya has the lowest are smallest land area

III. POPULATION DYNAMICS

3.1 Provincial Population

36

The total population of the Province of Palawan in 2000 is 755,412. Palawan consists of

23 municipalities and a capital city. El Nido’s population for the same year is 27,029 that

constitute only 3.58 percent of the province’s total population.

3.2 Historical Population Change

Based on the records of the NSO, it can be observed that the municipality’s population

continued to increase. A sharp increase was noted in 1970 with an increase of 5.91 percent,

almost 6 percent in fact. Another significant increase was observed in 1980 with an increase of

5.74 percent.

There was never a point within this period that a decrease in the municipal population was

recorded. This is an indication that despite its dominantly rural character, the municipality can

retain its population and likewise attract other people to settle in.

3.3 Urban and Rural Population

For the year 2000, only 4,329 of the municipal population was concentrated in the four (4)

urban barangays of the Poblacion namely; Buena Suerte, Corong-Corong, Maligaya and

Masagana. A larger portion of the population can be found in the rural barangays with a total of

27,029.

Given this figure, it can be deduced that the level of urbanization of the municipality is placed at

only 16 percent.

3.4 Total Population, Household Population and Number of Households

For the year 2000, the municipal population is placed at 27,029. This figure also

represents the household population. Whereas the total number of households for the same year

is 5,191.

3.5 Population Density

37

The Municipality of El Nido is generally sparsely populated with a population density of 55

persons per hectare. Barangay Buena Suerte has the highest density with 117 persons per

hectare while Barangay Mabini has the least with 1 person per hectare (rounded figure).

3.7 Population by Mother Tongue

Cuyuno is one of the many dialects spoken in the municipality. However, despite the use

of other dialects, cuyuno is the dominant dialect used by around 49.15 percent of the municipal

population. Tagalog is the second widely used by the local population with a sharer of 20.11

percent.

Other dialects being used include Aklanon, Cebuano, Hiligaynon/ Ilonggo, Ilocano, and Waray.

3.8 Religious Affiliation

Majority of the municipal population of El Nido are Roman Catholics with a percentage share

of 89.12 percent. Other religious affiliations include Iglesia ni Cristo, Aglipayans, Jehova’s

Witness, Seventh Day Adventist, born Again Christians that constitute around 10.89 percent.

3.9 Literacy Rate

Based on the 2000 CBMS data, 97.11 percent of the population is literate (ages 10 and

above). The age group with the highest literacy rate is the 15 to 19 years old age group, while the

age group with the lowest literacy rate is the 80 years old and above.

In the urban area, 98.30 percent of its population is literate. Both 15 to 19, and 45 to 49 age

group have the highest literacy rate with 100 percent, on the other hand, 75 to 79 years age

group has the lowest literacy rate with 80 percent.

3.10 Marital Status

38

Married individuals account for 50.62 percent of the total population. Whereas, single

individuals represent 44.67 percent of the total. Widowed, separated and others consists of

4.72 percent of the total population.

3.11 Migration

In 2000, 95.67 percent of the population of the municipality is considered migrants. The

other 4.31 percent of the population were residents from other municipalities within the province

and other places. This information is reflected in Table 5.

3.12 Population Projection

The data gathered on the historical growth of the municipal population revealed that El

Nido’s population, though fluctuating, is persistently on an increasing trend.

By using the Linear Growth Approach, the average population growth rate of the municipality

between 1990 and 2000 was computed. Thus, the derived AGR is 5.16 percent. This is higher

that the province’s AGR. On the other hand, using the same method, the AGR between 1995 to

2000 was likewise computed. The result is 4.6 percent.

5.3.1 Tourism Sites

The municipality is very well known in the area or field of tourism, not only in the province

but also nationwide, and in the international tourism circuit. The major factor in the

municipality’s tourism potential, is that the municipality is naturally endowed with beautiful

beaches, cliffs, hills and mountain forms, corals, exotic sea species. Simply put, nature

gave its best when the municipality was shaped.

Among the well known spots are Bulalacao and Nagkaletkalet Falls in Pasadena, Makinit

Hot spring also in Pasadena; the Cathedral Cave in Bebeladan; Miniloc, Lagen and

Malapacao Island Resorts and Dive Sites in Bacuit Bay.

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5.3.2 Tourists/visitors’ Arrivals

Based on the records of the local government unit, the number of tourist or visitors that

visited the tourists’ spots of the municipality for the year 1999 is estimated to have reached

22,078. The visitors and tourists included both local and foreign travelers.

It was gathered that the duration of stay of tourists varies from thee days to seven days.

Foreign visitors like the Japanese and Koreans frequent well known resorts being managed

by Ten Knots.

On the other hand, domestic tourists, working on a limited budget can opt to stay in the

Poblacion where some modest lodging facilities are available at very reasonable prices.

Island hopping, a favorite activity of domestic and foreign tourists, can also be availed of at

affordable costs.

There are still numerous sites in the municipality that deserves to be explored for tourism

purposes. However, the development of these sites should be pursued with restrain. This is

to primarily preserve and conserve the municipality’s primary asset, its inherent and innate

splendor.

VI. INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

6.1 Transportation

6.1.1 Transport Vehicles

The three (3) major transport facilities used by the residents include bicycles with

a share of 51.84 percent, tricycles with 20.06 percent and motorcycles with 17.72

percent. The residents generally use this mode of transport facility within the Poblacion

and adjacent barangays.

The local population also uses public utility vehicles like jeepneys and bus to

commute from the Poblacion to distant barangays and to adjacent municipalities even to

the capital city of Puerto Princesa.

Though short in number, public utility transport facilities conduct scheduled

regular trips to bring residents from one point to another within the municipality, thereby

making movement of people and goods at least, without much difficulty.

40

Problems may arise in cases of medical emergency if no transport or vehicle is

available to bring a patient to the nearest health clinic or hospital for the required medical

attention. This situation must be addressed, at least even at the barangay level.

6.2 Communication

6.2.1 Communication Facilities

Despite the location of the municipality, its external access through

communication is excellent. Smart and Globe, the two leading companies in mobile

phone service, are available in the municipality. The local government, the residents and

visitors of the municipality can immediately connect with concerned individuals or entities

for private or business transactions. Availability of the state-of-the-art communication

facilities enables and allows the local government to facilitate the growth of the

municipality.

At the moment some barangays are already using Smart link telephone. The

facility is generally based in the barangay centers. The presence of this facility permits

the rural residents to communicate with the Poblacion and other areas of the country

thereby increasing their access to information and even services.

Another means of communication includes government telegraphic service. In

1999 alone, it recorded around 650 outgoing and received 1,382 messages. It further

sent around 435 telegrams for the same year.

6.3 Water

6.3.1 Households in Occupied Housing Units by Type of Water

Facilities

Out of the total number of households, 84.70 percent or 3,028 households get

their water from dug wells. On the other hand, 6.85 percent or 245 households get their

water from springs, lake river, and rain. Only 1,364 households or 31.14 percent have

access to community water system.

41

6.4 Power

6.4.1 Fuel Used for Lighting and Cooking

In 2000, 68.80 percent of the total number of households in El Nido used kerosene

(gas) for lighting while only a small percent representing 25.56 percent of the total

households are using electricity, LPG and other kinds of fuel for the purpose.

6.4.2 Power Situation

The Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) is the power provider in the

municipality. As of this date, so much remains to be desired as far as power service is

concerned.

As earlier indicated, only about 367 households are served by electricity.

Several rural barangays still has to be served by electricity.

Moreover, the inflow of investors in the municipality is not bright if the supply of

power is not stable and adequate. Thus, efforts should be exerted on the part of the local

government unit and the PALECO to ensure that power supply is stabilized.

VII. ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION

7.1 Toilet Facilities

In 2000, around 862 households or 19.93 percent do not have any toilet facility. On the

other hand, 264 households or 6.10 percent of the total were using the closed and open pit type,

and, only 3,200 or 73.97 percent households are using the water-sealed type toilet facility.

7.2 Method of Garbage Disposal

More than half of the total number of households that is 3,580 or 81.56 percent of the

total dispose their wastes by burning. While 687 or 15.65 percent dump their garbage in their

respective individual pits. Only a small number of 30 households or .68 percent are practicing

composting.

42

Burning and dumping of garbage on individual pits as common practice of disposing domestic

wastes is realistic because of the availability of vacant or open spaces and the absence of

contiguous structures that will be inconvenienced or bothered by smoke as caused by burning.

EL NIDO ZONING IN CLUP

Terrestrial Zones

Zone

Allowable Uses

1. Strict Protection Area/Zone

(Core Zone)

1. Ritual/Ceremonies of the ethnic groups.

2. For scientific researches

2. Restricted Use Zone 1. Gathering of indigenous materials without

damaging the environment and NTFP.

2. Volume or quantity of extracted materials is

limited to ensure resource sustainability.

3. Extraction of indigenous materials through

traditional method

3. Controlled Use Zone 1. Non-commercial quantity of extracted indigenous

materials.

2. Extraction of indigenous materials through

traditional

3. Observance of “open season” for the gathering of

edible birds’ nests and NTFP to ensure continuance

of resources.

4. Traditional Use Zone 1. Utilization of salvage timber.

2. Seasonal utilization of natural resources such as

gathering of edible birds nests.

3. Sustainable agriculture development.

43

5. Existing Use Zone 1. Only present activities may be continued/allowed.

2. Sustainable utilization of natural resources for the

benefit of the next generations.

3. Gathering of edible birds’ nests.

4. Residents who are occupying the area five (5)

years before the declaration as protected area.

6. Multiple Use Zone 1. Utilization of Natural Resources is allowed

2. Controlled tourism development

3.Infrastructure development

4. Agriculture development which include “cashew”

plantation.

5. Reforestation projects

6. Communal Forests

7. Utilization of natural resources for use of the

community.

44

Coastal Marine Zone

Zone Allowable Uses

1. Core 1. Navigational purposes of the local communities

where no alternative route.

2. Emergency situations such as emergency

navigational route to save life and property.

3. Researches authorized by law.

4. Habitat restoration, rehabilitation and

enhancement activities.

2. Buffer

1. Restricted recreation

• Swimming/snorkeling

• Non-motorized boating

• Guided scuba diving

• Fishing using highly selected gears.

2. Research/monitoring activities authorized by

law.

3. Pre-approved visit/educational tours.

4. Installation of information boards

Resource enhancement activities.

3. Communal Fishing Ground 1. Non-destructive fishing

2. Fry collection and shell gathering

3. Navigational routes

4. Fishery support facilities and infrastructures

4. Tourism Development Area 1. Tourism infrastructures

2. Recreational activities

3. Habitat structure

• Bird watching huts

45

4. Small community projects supporting tourism

5. Visitors Use Area 1. Environmental education activities

2. Recreational activities

3. Sports fishing limited to local operators

4. Picnic ground/beach shed

6. Sustainable Development Area 1. All sustainable development activities subject to

EIA system

2. All alienable and disposable area.

For other particular areas in the municipality, the following classifications, restrictions

and uses should be observed.

Lalutaya Island

Core

Twin Core

Marialuz Core

Buri Island Core, existing

Maapdet Island Core, visitor

Caverna Island Core

Matinloc Existing, visitors’ use

Calmong Visitors’ use

Binangculan Visitors’ use

Tapuitan Island Existing, Visitors’ use

Turtle Island Core

Pinaglungaban Existing use, Visitors’ use

Big and Small Lagoons Existing use, Visitors’ use

Entalula Existing, Visitors’ use

Pangalusian

Core (southwestern portion),

existing, Visitors’ use

Pinagbuyutan Existing use, visitors’ use

46

Langen Island

Cove 1- Tourism

Cove 2 - Visitors use

Cove 3 – Visitors’ use, existing,

sustainable (titled)

Vigan

Multiple use (excluding mangroves)

Existing

Pinasil Existing

Sisig Rocks Core

Cudugnon Visitors use

Dilumacad Existing, visitors’ use

Cauyan Existing use

Miniloc Existing use

Resort sites and other beaches Tourism, visitors’ use

Inambuyod Existing use

Inambuyod (big) Visitors’ use

Popolcan Core

Pakanayos Core

Tambaluang Core

Tres Marias Existing use

Bucal Island Existing use, visitors’ use

Cadlao Sustainable

Pasandigan Existing use, visitors’ use

Calarangan Beach Visitors’ use

Pusit Existing use

Macaamo Lagoon Visitors’ use

Depeldet Existing use

Grace Rock Core

Malapacao Existing use

Camago Existing use, visitors’ use

Mabolo Existing use

Destucado Core

47

Bito Core (upland)

Visitors’ use (beach

Vilma Visitors’ use (beach)

Cagbuli Existing use (lowlands)

Core (northeastern)

Nalbot Core

Daracoton Existing use (highlands)

Palacatan Existing use

Bubog Visitors’ use

Imoroque Existing use

Cabusco Existing use

Talawtawan Existing use

The total area of forest area under this land use plan is 29,352.516104 hectares. The same shall

be zoned as Forest Zone under the municipality’s General Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance.

El Nido Marine Reserve from Suhay Magazine Maiden Issue

The El Nido terrestrial and marine areas total 95,000 ha. The reserve has pronounced dry season

from January to April, the wet season from May to December.

The area has metamorphosed limestone forms, the marble-forming caves, galleries and

underground passages has four type of vegetation/forest; watershed is mainly dipterocarp forest and

drains into Bacuit and Cataba bays; dense mangrove forest extend over marine ecosystem.

El Nido has six ecosystems – four terrestrial and two marine – with salt-spray tolerant plant

species, unique limestone cliff plants, small local endemic species of palms and other plants; it is the

habitat of some 15 bird species; animal species include the Palawan bear cat, Tibet cat and pangolin;

crocodile, dugong and three marine turtle species.

It is home to the Tagbanua. Livelihood sources are equals farming which is secondary to fishing;

charcoal production; harvesting minor forest products; wild life hunting; locally sized mining and swift let

bird collection.

48

A Protected Area at Last

In 1998, El Nido was declared a Protected Area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation

Number 32. The following year, the Protected Area Management Board changed the official name of the

park to El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area. The Protected Area spans 90,321 hectares in

total, 60% of its marine territory. The Protected Area covers all 18 baranggays in El Nido, all of them

coastal. It also covers three baranggays of the neighboring municipality of Taytay. During the

Implementation of NIPAP, for the second time, the people of El Nido were up against an enforcement

program with teeth. Looking back, DENR ranger Bienvenido Veguilla muses that, as the protection status

of El Nido progressed, “more activities became illegal, and therefore there were more violators.” The

people involved in enforcement tell of verbal and symbolic threats made on their lives because of their

involvement. Fortunately, none of the threats were actually carried out. NIPAP’s patrol operations ceased

in November 2000 as the program drew to a close. Conservation funding was drastically reduced from

Php3 million (US$50,000) at the height of NIPAP operations in 1999 and 2000, to about half to that for

2001 and 2002, to a mere 10% of that by 2003. Without the NIPAP funds, the DENR’s logistical capacity

to enforce laws was dramatically reduced. The Protected Area Office was left with only two rangers who,

due to the circumstances, mostly patrolled only the forests. In the absence of environmental enforcement,

El Nido’s marine areas reverted back to being open access territory. Rampant illegal logging and fishing

resumed. Alarmed by reports on illegal fishing incidents, a group of concerned individuals, the local

government, national government agencies, NGO staff and the private sector got together in February

2001. The meeting was very informal, but it was the first ever gathering of different sectors of

enforcement. The three NGOs operating in the area at the time – El Nido Foundation, the Philippine Rural

Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), and WWF-Philippines – expressed concern that even they had

ongoing environment-related projects, their efforts might be for naught. “Conservation goals will not be

achieved and efforts may be useless without environmental enforcement as part of the conservation and

development management mechanism,” said RJ dela Calzada, WWF Philippines Project Manager, of

their predicament. Those at the meeting decided that they had to come up with an enforcement plan for

El Nido. As a result of the meeting, several group discussions, planning sessions and mini workshops

transpired from April to November 2001 to come up with the El Nido patrolling Plan for the marine areas.

In this scheme, four composite teams were organized to patrol designated Patrol Zones. The teams were

called ‘composite’ because they were composed of several agencies – The Protected Area Office, the

Philippine National Police, the Local Government Unit, members of the Municipal Fisheries Aquatic

Resources Management Councils and resort guards of Ten Knots. The Patrol teams also recruited

volunteers from the baranggays. Later on, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also joined the composite

teams. In 2002, with Dutch funding support through PRRM, WWF-Philippines got directly involved in

enforcement by paying salaries of six former NIPAP rangers detailed under the Protected Area Office for

49

forest enforcement. The PRRM project ended in October that year. But by then, WWF-Philippines had

already developed a support program for the marine enforcement system.11

GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS

• DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM (DOT)

The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall be the primary government agency charged with the

responsibility to encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate

foreign currency and employment and to spread the benefits of tourism to both the private and public

sector. The Tourism Planning, Product Development and Coordination Sector is responsible for the

formulation and updating of the Tourism Master Plan, together with its component programs. The Sector

monitors the effective implementation of the Tourism Master Plan and, in coordination with the private

sector and other government institutions, develops and conceptualizes new products and investment

opportunities designed to enhance tourist sites and facilities.

• PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE BUREAU (PAWB)

The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau or PAWB is under the governance of the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). For the Conservation of the country's biological diversity,

PAWB Establish, manage and develop the NIPAS, Conservation of Wildlife Resources, Information and

Education for Nature Conservation.

• AIR TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (ATO)

The Air Transportation Office aims to ensure safe, reliable, economical, and efficient air

transportation. Fully integrated with the national transportation system, taking into account the

requirements of national interest, and environmental concerns with accordance to ICAO Standards and

Recommended Practices (SARPS). ATO is the one responsible for Establishment and prescription of

rules and regulations for the inspection and registration of all aircraft owned and operated in the

Philippines and all air facilities.

11 Chrisma Salao, El Nido: Working Together for Environmental Law Enforcement, A Case Study in the Philippines, 2005, p12

50

• PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY (PPA)

The PPA has Its goal, as spelled out in its charter, Presidential Decree 857, as amended, is to

implement an integrated port system that is aimed at accelerating maritime trade and commerce and

carry forward the government objective of transforming the Philippines into a newly-industrialized

country.

NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION The following NGO’s are actively working in the development of El Nido Palawan’s conservation:

• WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE- PHILIPPINES (WWF-PHILIPPINES)

Since it was founded in 1961, WWF has become one of the world's largest and most effective

independent organizations dedicated to the conservation of nature. WWF now operates in around 100

countries, supported by nearly five million people worldwide.

WWF-Philippines, also known as Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas (KKP) , has been working as a

national organization of the WWF network since 1997. The organization's conservation program places

strong marine emphasis in the conservation of species and habitats and utilizes highly integrative and

participatory approaches to find solutions that work for the environment and for the people that live in and

depend on it.

In 1999-2000, WWF-Philippines prepared baseline studies for the development of the General

Management Plan of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area and the Comprehensive

Land/Water Use Plan of El Nido Municipality. Enforcement actions started in 2001 resulting in seizures,

apprehensions, fines and cases filed. In 2004, WWF-Philippines expanded community-based

enforcement in Taytay Municipality assisting stakeholder groups in instituting enforcement systems and

increasing public awareness The multi-sectoral effort in El Nido is regarded as a model in inter-sectoral

collaboration, enforcement innovations and public-private partnerships. The project is supported by an

East Asia Pacific - Environment Initiative grant from USAID. (http://www.wwf.org.ph)

51

• PHILIPPINE RURAL RECONSTRUCTION MOVEMENT (PRRM)

The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement was founded in 1952.Over the past five

decades; PRRM has made a number of major contributions to Philippine rural development.

The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) is not just a non-governmental

(development) organization or NGO. It is also a membership organization --- one of the few NGOs that

have a membership base. Its membership consists of people who share the philosophy and principles of

rural reconstruction.

In 1997, the El Nido project started, the PRRM focused on the following activities for and

with the local communities: it strengthen community based resource management activities. It also

supported the development of alternative livelihood activities, and evaluated and monitored the

biodiversity of the terrestrial ecosystem of El Nido. (http://www.prrm.org)

• EL NIDO FOUNDATION (ENF)

El Nido Foundation was established in 1994, several years in the development, this

Foundation operates under the direction of a local Executive Director and independent Board. Activities

are funded primarily from interest income derived from the endowment, most of which initially came from

the Andres Soriano Corporation and Nissin Sugar Manufacturing Corporation, joint owners of Ten Knots.

The Foundation represents the acceptance by Ten Knots of social responsibility for helping to nurture and

develop the local economy.

ENF, borrowing from the Grameen model, provides financing for small cooperatives and

micro-entrepreneurs through a series of “lending windows”. These windows are directed to individuals,

groups of up to six people working as a cooperative, and associations. To date, more than 500 people,

some borrowings as individuals, and others working in groups and associations, have received financing,

some for more than one project. Almost all of these projects are directly or indirectly related to the

development and support of tourism. Loans to individuals since the lending scheme started in 1994

exceed 2 million pesos, and the impact on the community has been substantial. (http://cullin.org)

• TEN KNOTS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (TKDC)

The ten knots Development Corporation is a private entity wherein they are the premier developer of

El Nido Palawan resorts. TKDC instituted a corporate plan for the development of tourism destination site

that would be environmentally sensitive, encourage conservation and environmental education, and

support the development of the local economy. After almost 20 years, TKDC operates two resorts, one on

52

Miniloc Island and the other on Lagen Island. TKDC also played a key role in the development of the

airport ,operated by Interisaland Transvoyager Incorporated (ITI).

Review on Related Studies

Foreign Studies

Impacts of the 1998 Coral Bleaching Event of Tourism in El Nido, Philippines

Herman Cesar (2000) This report was prepared with funding provided by the U.S. Department of State, East Asia and Pacific Environmental Initiative (US-EAP-EI) through the (USAID-URI) Cooperative Agreement in Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island. Data were gathered in El Nido in the summer of 200

Severe coral bleaching during the summer of 1998 has led to 30-50% coral mortality in the

Philippine town of El Nido (Bacuit Bay) on the island of Palawan. Given the importance of tourism in this

area, the logical question arises what the impact is of bleaching on tourism. Therefore, this study aimed to

assess the economic tourism losses of the 1998 bleaching episode and subsequent coral mortality. In the

El Nido area, diving and snorkelling are the main outdoors activities of the nearly 17,000 tourists who visit

the area annually. Bacuit Bay covers about 120 km2 and along with its outer shelf includes 14 islands. El

Nido has two major resorts (Lagen - see picture- and Miniloc), as well as two small resorts and a fair

number of cottages in the town proper. This study is based on both questionnaire surveys and secondary

data sources. Surveys solicited opinions of tourists in El Nido, both in town and at the resorts. The

surveys asked, among others, questions related to the willingness-to-pay for improvement in reef quality.

The questionnaire was filled out by 58 tourists in the summer of 2000. Unfortunately, tourism arrivals were

low in this period due to the Mindanao hostage crisis. A dozen key informants were interviewed as well,

such as dive instructors, resort managers and cottage owners. They were asked for their perceptions of

reef quality and tourist satisfaction. The secondary data sources are the official tourism statistics of El

Nido and the Province of Palawan. These data were revised given severe underreporting by cottage

owners for tax collection reasons. The survey revealed that there are two quite distinct groups of tourists

in El Nido, each roughly 50% of the total. The first group are backpackers, typically Europeans, but also

some Filipinos and other Asians. They arrive by bus or boat and often stay in the cottages in El Nido

proper. They do some snorkelling, boat tours, nature walks, etc. in the area as part of a larger trip to the

Philippines. The other groups are resort tourists, who often fly into El Nido, and come for a luxurious

diving or honeymoon or relax holiday. They either stay solely in El Nido or combine this trip with diving

elsewhere in Palawan. For both groups combined, most foreign tourists come from Europe (37%),

followed by Japan (15%), South Korea (9%) and USA (9%). Local Filipino tourists comprise a sizeable

24% of the total (See Table 1).

53

Table 1: Number of Tourists by Country of Origin and Type of Accommodation in El Nido - 1999 data

Tourists can also be distinguished by purpose of visit. The three main categories are: (i) divers;

(ii) honeymooners; and (iii) general eco-tourists/relaxers. The survey found that the daily activities of

these three groups in El Nido are mostly sea-related, as is clear from Figure 1. This shows that the four

activities ‘diving’, ‘snorkeling’, ‘kayaking’ 5 and general ‘beach/relax’ are the most common ones. Note

that 47% of the interviewees mentioned ‘diving’ as one of the activities. For most tourists, their dive was

the shallow trial dive carried out on a one-to-one basis with an instructor. Only 18% of tourists interviewed

had a diving certificate and dived more than once, while only 4% of tourists interviewed did more than 5

dives.

Figure 1: Activities undertaken by tourists in El Nido - multiple activities possible (sample size: 58)

Whether divers or not, most tourists coming to El Nido have a clear interest in the marine

environment. Only 5% of the interviewees said they found “marine life” not important. At the same time,

the general awareness of coral bleaching was found to be low. Only 44% of tourists in the sample were

aware of the 1998 coral bleaching event. Especially the South Koreans and Filipinos in the sample had

little knowledge of coral bleaching (31% and 20%). El Nido has boomed as tourism destination in the last

decade. Although no precise data on tourism arrivals are available for the mid-eighties, it is estimated that

the total number of visitors was roughly 6000, with 25% budget tourists and 75% resort tourists. Budget

tourism has increased fivefold since 1985 to 8005 in 1999. Resort tourism has roughly doubled since the

mid eighties to 8607 in 1999. In the last years, occupancy rates of the cottages have been close to 100%

in the peak season and roughly one-third in the low season. From key informants’ interviews, it appears

54

that bleaching has not impacted budget tourist arrivals. The only loss is that fewer budget tourists dive

during their stay and make fewer dives. At the resorts, the situation is much worse. The resorts used to

cater to the exclusive high-end of the dive market and Bacuit Bay was advertised as a pristine diving

area. Over the last years, it has lost this image, due to reef degradation. According to key informants, this

degradation is the result of the following four factors ranked according to perceived importance: (i) coral

bleaching (El Niño); (ii) 1998 typhoon (also linked to El Niño), (iii) destructive fishing; (iv) tourism damage

(anchoring; trampling on reefs by divers; etc.). According to one key informant, around 80% of resort

guests were divers in the mid 1980s. Currently, the percentage divers are estimated at roughly 10%. The

resorts have shifted in the meantime towards ‘honeymooners’, who now form over 50% of arrivals in the

resorts, and other groups. The low occupancy rates suggest that the ‘lost’ divers are a true loss to the

resorts. Table 2 presents estimates of bleaching-related losses in El Nido. For these estimates, two

scenarios are presented. One in which the losses are temporary and gradually disappear over a 10 year

period, concurrent with coral recovery. The second scenario assumes no significant recovery of the

ecosystem and permanent losses. The net present value of the losses is calculated with discount rates of

both 3% and 9% per year. Total losses of value added in present value terms are estimated to be

between US$15.0 and 27.0 million depending on the discount rate. If the losses are temporary, the totals

would drop to US$ 6.0 to 7.4 million.

Table 2: Loss in Net Revenue to the Philippine Economy due to Coral Bleaching in El Nido (in Net Present Value

(NPV) in ‘000 US$ over the period 2000-2025)

Besides financial losses to the local economies, coral bleaching can also affect tourists’ holiday

satisfaction and thereby create a loss in their welfare. To assess this, tourists were asked to express their

willingness to pay for ‘better reef quality’, based on photos shown. The specific question was how much

tourists were willing to pay extra to go to hypothetical remote areas on Palawan where reefs were not

affected by coral bleaching and which were, in all other respects, the same.

Figure 2: Willingness to Pay for better reef quality in Bacuit Bay (El Nido)

55

Figure 2 shows the distribution of this willingness to pay (WTP) with a mean number of US$ 88.5.

Divers were prepared to pay considerably more than snorkellers: the mean WTP for divers was US$ 202

and for snorkellers US$ 26. This corresponds with a total WTP of US$ 1.5 million per year. The results,

again with two scenarios and two discount rates, are presented in Table 3.

Table 3: Total Loss in Welfare of Tourists due to Coral Bleaching in El Nido (in Net Present Value (NPV) in ‘000

US$ over the period 2000-2025)

56

Local Studies

The Benefits of Establishing a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Palawan, Philippines

Source: Hodgson et al. (2000)

El Nido is a coastal town located on the Philippine island of Palawan. Marine activities include

traditional fisheries and dive-related tourism. Upstream logging was determined to have an impact on the

marine environment. In 1986, it was determined that forest logging on the land surrounding the bay could

limit the viability of the fisheries and tourism industries. A cost-benefit analysis predicted that over 10

years logging would generate gross revenues of US$8.6 million. The predicted lost revenues from

fisheries and tourism (as a result of a degraded environment from logging) were estimated at US$6.2

million and US$13.9 million respectively. Therefore, logging would produce a net negative cash flow. As a

result, logging was banned in Palawan by the national government, and the bay was declared a Marine

Reserve. A re-survey of the El Nido area was conducted in 1996. It revealed that the predictions about

tourism growth were correct, and preservation of the unique forest ecosystem had allowed ecotourism to

flourish. However, increased fishing pressures due to a variety of causes had resulted in over fishing and

severely reduced populations from most high-value species of fish and shellfish. This situation shows that

coastal resource managers should pay close attention to ecological-social-economic interactions and

their economic consequences. The economic analysis done here used some fairly simple assumptions

and readily available data, but provided useful and accurate predictions about the likely economic impacts

of the two main options (logging or no logging). The analysis helped to convince the government to ban

logging in Bacuit Bay watershed in 1988. By 1996, the coral reefs of Bacuit Bay had recovered from the

sedimentation damage they previously suffered from the logging. The tourism industry was flourishing.

However, haphazard, uncontrolled growth of small businesses and guesthouses, although providing an

alternative livelihood to local residents, was become a threat to the ecotourism industry. Furthermore,

local population expansion increased demand on the fisheries resources and artisanal fishers had

decimated populations of high value marine species. SCUBA divers noticed reductions in numbers of

large fish, although they were still attracted by the interesting corals, drop-offs and small reef fish. The

government now faces the dilemma about how to control excessive fishing in Bacuit Bay. Although this

study was successful in persuading the government of the economic value of protecting this area, it is

clear that adaptive management is key to successful long-term protection.12

12 http://guide.conservationfinance.org/chapter/index.cfm?Page=6

57

Educating the Destination Community about Tourism: Information and Participation

The impacts of tourism destination communities have been the subject of recent debate and

concern. The concept of tourism as a “Community industry”, i.e one in which tourists are consumer of

community resources and the community itself is the commodity (Murphy 1988), offers a perspective on

this impacts. This approach suggest that tourism must become more sensitive and responsive of the

needs of the community; and the support of the whole community, and not just those who gain direct

economic benefit from it, is necessary with the success of tourism at the local level Attention has focused

on the need to make both tourism industry and tourist more aware of their impact upon destinations and

more sensitive and responsive to the needs of destination communities. Programs of community

participation in tourism planning have sought to inform the industry about the community needs.

Measures have also been taken to educate tourists about their impact upon destination communities,

particularly in culturally sensitive destinations. The argument that the support of the whole community is

necessary for the success of tourism at the local level has, however, been over looked. Little attention

has been given to the need to educate the destination community about the possible costs and benefits of

tourism for their community and their role as host in contributing to its success. The aims of this paper

are: 1. to argue that there is a need to educate the destination community about the potential costs and

benefits of tourism for their community and the importance of their role as a host in contributing a

successful and sustainable industry. 2. To argue that the concept of community participation in tourism

planning is a potential vehicle for educating communities. 3. To offer some insight into the issues and

problems involved in educating destination communities about the impacts of tourism and their role in

contributing to their success. All types of new development bringing change and impacts, but tourism

makes particular demands on the destination community because of the variety of different opportunities

for host – guest – counters and competition over resources that it creates. Tourism is an industry that

thrives on the commodization of the community. The costs and benefits of tourism are therefore most

intensely experienced by the community in the destination region. Tourism is extremely dependent upon

the support of the community. The host-guest relationship in particular is central to the success of tourism

at the local level. This relationship is a delicate one and subject to change according to community

perceptions of tourism. It is not unknown for a tourism enterprise to fail as a result of a lack of community

support has its foundation in two areas. Firstly, a lack of willingness of the part of planners and industry to

plan for tourism understanding among community members about the importance of tourism in their area

and their role as hosts in contributing to its success. Community participation in tourism planning can

potentially address both of these problems because it offers a dual educational opportunity. Through

programs of participation, the tourism industry and local government can be informed about community

needs. Such programs also provide a vehicle for educating the community about the impacts of tourism

and their role as hosts in contributing to its success. Thus far, this second opportunity has not fully been

exploited. Rather, it has largely been a by-product of the participation process rather than an end in itself.

58

Many questions remained unanswered and issues unaddressed by this paper, for example, what type of

information should be given, who should select the information, how does one reach the broader

community rather than just a few interested individuals. These research priorities can be identified. The

results came from these will of course vary within and between communities. 1. To find out what

knowledge about tourism exists and to identify knowledge graphs. 2. To ascertain what knowledge the

destination community wants or needs in order to understand the costs and benefits of tourism in their

community and fulfill their role as hosts. 3. To develop an effective method or presenting this information

in a way that is accessible and useful to all. The need to educate the destination community about the

costs and benefits of tourism and their responsibilities as hosts should not be look at in isolation. By

giving people information, their understanding of the problems, issues and potential of tourism

development will be improved as will their ability to contribute to a decision-making process. For this

reason, it is suggested that the process of educating the destination community about tourism should go

hand in hand with programs of community participation in tourism planning. The results would be a

greater sensitivity to community needs by the industry and those who would plan for tourism, and a

greater understanding on the part of destination community about the potential costs and benefits of

tourism and their role in contributing to its success.13

El Nido working together for environmental law enforcement: A Case Study in the Philippines

This case study on El Nido, a coastal municipality in the province of Palawan, is the 2nd in a

series of analyses being undertaken by WWF-Philippines. This series aims to communicate key issues

and lessons from field projects to fellow practitioners, program and policy staff, personnel of managed

and/ or protected areas, partners and donors. The first in the series was on the Turtle Islands in Tawi-

tawi, which discuss the process of finding the right entry point for conservation and governance issues

related to the management of fisheries and resources, including the eggs of marine turtles. This study

describes the evolution and the current system of El Nido’s multi-stakeholder environmental marine law

enforcement program, in the hope that the reader can pick up relevant point for application. The intention

is to use these studies help both in building a greater understanding of the issues and in promoting further

learning and sharing of successes and challenges.14

13 Georgia Young, Community Based Sustainable Tourism, “Educating the Destination Community about Tourism:

Information and Participation”, University of Newcastle, 1998 14 Chrisma Salao, El Nido: Working Together for Environmental Law Enforcement, A Case Study in the Philippines, 2005, p1

59

ISSUES FACING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM IN THE PHILIPPINES15

Although ecotourism has been existing in the Philippines since 1992, little has changed in its

status and popularity. Few tours have been designed to cater to its market and new destinations have

been hardly developed and promoted for ecotourism. It is clear that constraints will be encountered

because of the following:

A. ENVIRONMENTAL - The environmental state of the Philippines has already reached a

depressing stage wherein much of the natural resources are heavily exploited or totally depleted,

denying ecotourism a chance to grow in many areas. From 16 million hectares of virgin tropical

rainforest in the 1930’s, the statistics have gone down to below one million in the middle ‘90s. The

coral reef boast of very wide diversity and perfect diving experience but those in perfect condition

have considerably decreased to a small percentage. A number of endemic species which can be

considered “star” ecotourism attraction, like the Philippine Eagle, are now considered highly

endangered.

Environmental degradation, both on commercial and subsistence levels,

continue to persist in the Philippine basically because of the lack alternative economic

opportunities and the current economic status of the country. Some potential ecotourism

destinations are under the constant threat of degradation that it has become a race against time

for conservation to turn threatened areas into ecotourism destinations and prevent complete

environmental damage. There are some success stories as in the case of St. Paul Subterranean

National Park in Palawan, the whales and dolphins program in the Visayas, and the Canopy Walk

in Misamis Oriental where there are still large tracts of lands and marine environmental that

should be developed for ecotourism and provide an alternative for the local communities.

Everything, however, is not yet that hopeless. Because of its immense diversity of floral

and fauna species and the number of impressive lanforms, ecotourism still has a chance to fully

develop in the Philippines. There are still areas where the natural environment as almost

untouched and the living resources, both by diversity and character, are capable of attracting

nature lovers. But to truly develop the full potential of ecotourism, the country has to undergo a lot

of environmental rehabilitation.

15 Carlos Libosada Jr., Ecotourism in the Philippines, 1998,pp44-50

60

B. INSTITUTIONAL – The full institutionalization of any new program, depending on the scope,

requires equivalent effort for the government. Although the DOT has been actively pursuing the

development of ecotourism programs and the adaptation of its concept in the whole industry, it

sorely lacks institutional framework to be followed and adopted by the industry.

One major institution constraint is the lack of active coordination between the two

government agencies which are major players in environmental and tourism concerns- the DOT

and the DENR. There have been efforts in the past to bridge this gap through workshops and

membership in inter-agency committees on specific environmental matters.

On the other hand, the national and protected parks where ecotourism can be best done

are rarely properly developed.

On a positive note, the joint memorandum circular on ecotourism development guidelines

signed by both DOT and DENR mar signal the start of a more active involvement of the two

agencies towards the development of ecotourism.

The type of ecotourism promoted by non-government organizations are limited by the

absence of knowledge on the dynamics of tourism and the need of suppliers (tour operator) as an

important component of tourism programs. Driven by the desire to ultimately benefit the local

communities, the NGO’s and their organized community group tend to leave out supplier thinking

that much of the benefits will go to the suppliers. Because of this, some ecotourism programs are

bound to fail. This is exacerbated by the fact that most of the rural populations know very little

about the ecotourism industry.

C. POLICY – Although several provinces have made it a policy to give priority to ecotourism in the

development of the tourism industry in their areas, the country is still constrained by the slow

development of a national policy on ecotourism. It has taken the country eight years, since the

introduction of the concept in the Philippines, to come up with a memorandum circular on

ecotourism. Such policy should have already been helping the industry steer its way towards the

proper and full development of its concept and related programs.

The private sector’s policy, despite its diversity, has common issues which are

considered constraints in the development of ecotourism programs and packages. These are:

61

1. Long Gestation Period – Any new tourism product requires a long gestation period which

lasts for at least one to two years before the first paying visitors actually come to the

destination. Even though ecotourism programs seldom require high capital input, this

gestation period prevents the private sector room investing in ecotourism. It is also an

accepted fact that ecotourism products must always limit the number of people joining a

program to ensure minimum environmental impact and full enjoyment of each tourist. On

the part of the investors, developers and tour operators, this is a case of a major gamble,

sadly, one that very few have dared to get involved in.

2. Ecotourism is a niche market – it is widely believed that the ecotourism market usually

comes from the special interest sector and it will be doubly hard to attract specific types

of market. There are seldom repeat visitors among the niche market segment.

3. No or little existing ecotourism programs – most tour operators usually ride on existing

tour programs to act as retailers and to avoid the complications of designing and

operating tour programs themselves.

D. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE – A major ecotourism constraint is the lack of working knowledge

among the people in local destinations and some in the industry which further puts ecotourism

into a question of whether it is an ideal concept or an eco-sell (Wight 1993). Sine it was

introduced in the Philippines, the whole industry, ranging from government agencies, the private

sector to local government units, was stirred and dazzled by the chance to promote new products

based on nature. But this fever resulted in grandiose plans and concepts when just about

anything natural is considered ecotourism. Some claim that it is hunting while others believe that

it is collecting of rare plant and animal species and their by-products. I have personally met

people who said: “We have ecotourism in our place. There are thousand of birds there and we

can go hunting and killing hundreds of them.” This is a scandal ecotourism suffers in the

Philippines and it can go out of proportion and be an accepted practice if it is not properly relayed

to all the people concerned, both government and private personnel. For many, ecotourism is

simply nature tourism, the activities of which do not necessarily conform to environmental

concerns. For others, it is simply a chance to cash in on the current tourism wave without really

understanding its concept. Thus, ecotourism has been perceived as a chance for others to exploit

mature in the name of tourism.

It is very clear that for ecotourism to be properly developed, a large-scale education and

information campaign must be undertaken by the government, the private sector and the other

concerned organizations to inform the local communities of the true value of ecotourism and its

potential in protecting the environment while generating income for it. Much still remains to be

62

understood and done by the Filipinos in developing ecotourism and reaping its benefits, both

economic and environmental.

E. LACK OF SKILLED ECOTOURISM PERSONNEL – Although there are many environmental and

tourism experts in the Philippines, most of them are limited to their own fields with the other

almost completely ignorant about the dynamics of the opposite. This is most apparent in the lack

of planners who understand the characteristics of sound tourism planning based on environment

concerns. There are a number of schools offering tourism courses but since ecotourism is a fairly

new concept, the academe has still to come up with concrete programs on ecotourism.

There is also a shortage of ecotourism guides who are able to lead people to natural

destinations and instill educational and environmental values. Although the DOT has started the

accreditation of mountain guides and spelunking guides, what ecotourism in the Philippines

needs are so-called naturalist guides. One factor this concern is that most people with great

knowledge on environmental matters are busy teaching in the scientific academe. As long as

there are no people willing to make ecotourism guiding or ecotourism planning and management

a career, there will still be much to be desired.

Tourism Structure and Development Plan for El Nido, Palawan (July 2006)16

The overall objectives or Tourism development program component of the Sustainable

Environmental Management Project in Northern Palawan (SEMP-NP) is to concepts and

recommendations for environmentally sustainable tourism recommended in the 1997 JICA Funded-

Environmentally Sustainable Tourism Development Plan for Northern Palawan (ESTDP-NP) and prepare

a Development Plan for environmentally sustainable tourism based on the ECAN Zoning. The

SEMP/Tourism component fits into the overall goals of SEMP-NP namely to:

• Conserve the unique natural and cultural environment of Northern Palawan;

• Offer the impacting livelihood attention, including tourism opportunities, to extend benefits to local

communities and thus expand the local economy in a sustainable way.

The SEMP-NP was intended to pursue sustainable tourism concepts and recommendations

presented in the 1997 ESTDP study and its subsequent Technical Review in 1999 called the Special

16 Department of Tourism, Sustainable Environmental Management Project in Northern Palawan, July 2006

63

Assistance for Project Formation (SAPROF) Report in 1999. However, there has been a considerable

change in the national and international business environment since 1999 which can be summarized as

follows:

• The demand for international vacation travel has fallen sharply often 2001; with sign of recovery

for South East Asia showing up only on 2003-04;

• There have been severe outbreak on international air ocean capacity;

• Profitability on the tourism industry is down because of a combination of over supply and reduced

demand; and

• Global investment capacity (both public and private) has been significantly reduced particularly in

developing countries and in the project area.

The SEMP-NP, therefore, had to adjust Tourism Structure and Development Plan to the new

circumstances mentioned. The SEMP-NP Terms of Reference called for a Tourism Structure and

Development Plan for its two priority areas Busuanga in Calamianes Island and El Nido. For better

appreciation of the analyses and formulation of the Tourism Plans for the 2 priority areas, each areas was

presented as a separate Tourism Structure and Development Plan (TSDP) Report.

The SEMP-NP Terms of Reference called for Tourism Assessment Studies on other

municipalities in Northern Palawan. As modified, the other municipalities are Culion, Taytay, and San

Vicente. The municipality of Coron, on the other hand, was integrated with the Busuanga TSDP.

To formulate the Tourism Structure and Development Plan for El Nido, the SEMP-NP Planning

Team had to survey and analyzes a much bigger area than what was originally covered in the 1997

ESTDP-NP. The ESTDP-NP presented recommendations for Tourism sites that were limited to the

western part of El Nido mainland. As a result, the TSDP for El Nido included more tourism sites and

products that are more diverse and spatially distributed.

Another basis for the formulation of the Tourism Structure and Development Plan was the

Environmentally Critical Area Network (ECAN) which was undertaken around the same period by the

Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD). The TSDP and the ECAN Zoning were

developed in unison to avoid conflicts between proposed tourism developments and designated land

areas. The ECAN delineated the different zones in both land and sea, and prescribed the activities and

resources use of each zone.

64

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

The researchers conducted this study using the Descriptive research method. The descriptive

method is a fact-finding method that aims to gather adequate and accurate information from which to

derive the findings. It is a method which describes current conditions, practices, situations, or any other

phenomena. Since this study is concerned with the effects of the development of ecotourism in the town

of El Nido, Palawan, researchers believe that the descriptive method of research is the most appropriate

method to use. It will help the researchers to derive an outcome based on the data gathered and on the

observations.

Various strategies for data gathering were employed by the researchers. These are the library

research, survey-questionnaire, interview and ocular visitation or the observational method.

Collection of Data

The following are classifications of data according to sources, which the researchers will secure

to be able to complete the study:

Primary Data — data gathered from sources such as individuals (e.g., tourists, the local residents, private

organizations such as associations, fraternities, schools, business firms, the church, army, navy, air force,

government, law making bodies, family, tribe, etc.)

Living organisms such as animals, fowls and lower forms of living organisms serve as primary

data. This is why the researchers conducted the observation research method. Other sources of primary

data were man-made structures such as buildings, infrastructures and superstructures in El Nido.

Secondary Data — data gathered from secondary sources such as books, including dictionaries,

encyclopedias, almanacs, articles published in professional journals, magazines, newspapers, and other

publications, unpublished master’s theses and dissertations and other studies, monographs, manuscripts,

and all other second-hand sources. Secondary data is convenient to use because it is already

condensed and organized.

Library research was used to gather secondary data. This includes gathering clippings, previous

research, feature articles and stories on the subject from libraries, museums, newspaper companies,

government agencies, reliable websites, and other establishment or companies that might provide the

researchers such information about the topic. These were used to justify the information or the result that

the researchers might formulate at the end of the said study.

65

Instrument used in collecting data

The instrument that the researchers used was the questionnaire. The questionnaire was used

because it is the fastest way to gather accurate data. It is also easy to construct, less expensive, and

easier to distribute.

Interview

The interview method was conducted in this research. Interviews are particularly useful for

getting the story behind a participant's experiences. The researchers will pursue in-depth information

around a topic. Interviews will be useful as follow-up to certain responses on the questionnaires (i.e., to

further clarify responses).

The researchers will use four types of interview techniques:

• Informal/conversational interview, where no predetermined questions are asked in order to

remain as open and adaptable as possible to the interviewee's nature and priorities. During the

interview, the conversation will be less formal and not that stiff.

• General interview guide approach, which is intended to ensure that the same general areas of

information are collected from each interviewee. This provides more focus than the

conversational approach, but still allows a degree of freedom and adaptability in getting

information from the interviewee;

• Standardized, open-ended interview, wherein the researchers will ask the same open-ended

questions to all interviewees (an open-ended question is where respondents are free to choose

how to answer the question, i.e., they don't select "yes" or "no" or provide a numeric rating, etc.).

This approach is to be used by the researchers in order to facilitates faster interviews that can be

more easily analyzed and compared;

• Closed, fixed response interview, where all interviewees will be asked the same questions and

will be asked to choose answers from among the same set of alternatives.

Respondents were Mr. Rene Jay dela Calzada, head coordinator of the World Wide Fund for Nature

(WWF-Philippines) in El Nido, Palawan; Ms. Myrna Dripon of the Municipal Planning and Development

Council; Mr. Arvin Acosta of the Tourism Office in EL Nido; Mr. Raymond Osirio of the Protected Area

Superintendent (PASu); Ms. Pricilla Calimag of Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau- Philippine National

Ecotourism Programme (PAWB-PNEP); Mr.Glenn Solis of Island Transvoyager,Inc. (ITI); Ms. Mariglo

Laririt of Ten Knots Development Corporation (TKDC); Hon. Leonor Corral of the Office of the Vice

Mayor- Municipality of El Nido; PFC Isidro Sobong of Philippine Coast Guard- El Nido; Mr. Esperidion

Baac of the Philippine Ports Authority- El Nido. The researchers also interviewed some locals and tourists

about the effect of the ecotourism development in El Nido.

66

Survey

The researchers conducted the survey method, which is the most frequently-used method for

statistical purposes. One hundred respondents — comprised of 50 tourists and 50 local residents — was

the target population in the said method.

The researchers used the sample or pre-test survey, where respondents were chosen based on a

representative part in a group of sample respondents (i.e., local residents and tourists), and from it,

information about the group as a whole were inferred.

Questionnaires were made and were given to a group of tourists in El Nido. As for the locals,

interview survey was held so that they can further express their ideas and thoughts about ecotourism

development in their town, as well as about the conservation of their natural resources.

Statistical techniques guided the researchers in determining the validity and reliability of the

research.

Sample and Sampling Technique

Sampling makes possible the study of a large heterogeneous population. It would take a lot of

time to have the whole population as the variable in sampling. Therefore, the researchers used one of the

probabilities in sampling, which was the purposive sampling, wherein the participants to be involved in

the study were pre-determined from a target population.

In this method, the respondents were chosen on the basis of their knowledge of the information

desired. Since the research conducted was about the impacts of ecotourism development in the town of

El Nido, the researchers found tourists and local residents as the potential group for the said sampling

technique.

However, the actual selection of respondents was done in a random sampling method.

Observation Method

Another research strategy used was the observation method. The observation method relied

upon the direct observation of physical phenomena in the gathering of data. Observing the actions of the

respondents will be much more accurate than utilizing the survey method. Under this observational

method, researchers gathered information through either personal or mechanical observation.

67

The advantage of this method is to authenticate the accuracy of the information gathered from the

key informants during the interview. In this method the behavior of both the tourists and local residents

were recorded.

There were certain types of observation the researchers used.

First is the non - Participant Observation – in this kind of observation, the researchers did not take

active part in the activities of the group – which is the localfolks - being observed. The researchers lived

and worked with the local residents of El Nido, Palawan as well as the tourists for a certain length of time

until they know the ins and outs, the laws, procedures, rules and regulations for them to be able to get the

necessary data and information needed for the research.

Structured observation – in this kind of observation, the researchers concentrated on ecotourism

aspects – technical, social, economic and environmental – of the variable being observed, be it a thing,

behavior, condition, or situation. The items which the researchers observed are to be specified for

standard tabulation.

As for the recording, such forms of recording the results of observation will be used.

Statistical Treatment of Data

The kind of statistical treatment depends upon the nature of the specific problems and the nature

of the data gathered. The explicit hypotheses particularly determine the kind of statistical analysis to be

used. Since the research is a descriptive type, and the researchers used the survey method, therefore,

the statistical treatment for that is percentage. Questions were illustrated through graphs and percentage

was made to be able to show how many of the respondents answer the given questions. It was also

shown in ratio to determine the difference of the value of the respondents who answered the survey.

To be able to get the percentage of each question, the following formula will be used:

(Total no. of answer ÷ total no. of respondents) × 100 = percentage (%)

Bar graphs and pie graphs, however, were used in interpreting the answers of the 50 tourist

respondents and 50 local respondents to the questionnaires which the researchers provided them.

68

CHAPTER IV

Results and Discussion

During the seven months of gathering and evaluating the information from the data gathered

there is needed to come up with reliable results with the use of different method in gathering this

information for the researchers to articulate the impacts of ecotourism development in El Nido town.

The following figures are used to interpret the data and information gathered through surveys of

both locals and tourists. The following questions are vital to answer all the questions raised at the first

part of the thesis. Survey was used by the researchers to get the pulse of the people in El Nido.

Below are the results of the entire questions that were raised in the first chapter of this thesis.

• What are the impacts of ecotourism development in the town of El Nido?

From this question, the researchers came up with the following sub questions:

• What are the positive and negative effects of ecotourism modernization in the town of El

Nido?

• How will ecotourism modernization affect the town and its inhabitants?

• How will El Nido, Palawan maintain its pristine ecological condition while striving for

modernization?

• How did the Ecotourism in El Nido affect the economic lifestyle of the place?

These are the results of the survey answered by the locals in line with their choice that they want

to happen to El Nido. Since they are the main keeper of the place and residing in the town of El Nido the

researchers gathered their opinion.

Sample size: 50 respondents

Frequency Percentage

Conservation/ Ecotourism 36 72%

Development/ Mass Tourism 9 18%

Both 5 10%

Table 1: Locals choice for El Nido's Development

69

As a counterpart of the locals that is responsible for El Nido in its development, the tourists’

opinion in keeping El Nido according to their needs and wants as a tourist.

Frequency Percentage

Conservation/ Ecotourism 34 68%

Development/ Mass Tourism 16 32%

Table 2: Tourist choice for El Nido's Development

Frequency Percentage

AWARE 50 100%

NOT AWARE 0 0%

Table 3: Locals’ Level of Awareness of the Need for Conservation of El Nido

72%

18%

10%conservation /ecotourismmodernization /mass tourismboth

Tourists' Developmental Opinion

68%

32%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Pro-Conservation

Pro-Modernization

Percentage of Respondents

100%

0%

aware

not aware

Figure 14: Percentage of Locals choice for El Nido’s Development

Figure 15: Percentage of Tourists choice for El Nido's Development

Figure 16: Percentage of Locals

Awareness of the need for

Conservation in El Nido

70

The results shown above are the locals’ respond to the researchers question, whether

they are aware or not for the need for conservation of El Nido. Through this graph, (figure 3.) it illustrates

that all 50 or 100% of the respondents answered that they are aware of the need for conservation of EL

Nido.

Frequency Percentage

AWARE 41 82%

NOT AWARE 9 18%

Table 4: Awareness of the Locals in projects and programs of LGU

Figure 4 shows that 41 (82%) of the respondents are aware about the projects and programs

being implemented by the Local Government Unit while 9 (18%) of them are not aware.

Frequency Percentage

Involved 41 82%

Not Involved 9 18%

Table 5: Involvement of Locals in the programs of LGU

Eighty-two percent of the locals said that they are involved in the activities of the LGu regarding

the conservation of the protected area. And eighteen percent of it is not involved to the activities.

82%

18%

inv olv ed

not inv olv ed

82%

18%

yes

no

Figure 17: Percentage of the

locals’ awareness in projects and programs of LGU

Figure 18: Percentage

of Involvement of

Locals in the programs

of LGU

71

Frequency Percentage

Benefited 32 64%

NOT Benefited 21 36%

Table 6: Locals that are benefited from Ecotourism development

Figure 6 show that 32 (64%) local people agreed that they are receiving some benefits from the

development of tourism in their town. Some of it is the constructions of the roads and bridges of the town

and building of plazas for the youth in the community. But 21 (36%) of them did not agree that they are

receiving benefits from it.

Frequency Percentage

Affected 29 58%

NOT Affected 21 42%

Table 7: Locals affected by the Conservation Laws and Programs in El Nido

Question on figure 7 was whether the locals are affected or not with the Conservation

Laws and Programs of the town of El Nido. With 50 respondents, 29 (58%) of them admitted that they are

affected by the conservation laws and programs while 21 (42%) said that they are not affected.

Conservation laws such as collecting conservation fees from the tourists where the business-oriented

locals are obliged to collect it.

64%

36%

agree

disagree

58%

42%

affected

not affected

Figure 19: Percentage of Locals

that are benefited from the

Ecotourism Development

Figure 20:Percentage of

Locals affected by the

Conservation Laws and

Programs in El NIdo

72

Frequency Percentage

YES 29 58%

NO 21 42%

Table 8: Willingness of Locals to leave their traditional way of living for tourism development

Figure 8 shows that 29 (58%) of the correspondents are willing to leave their traditional way of

living just to acquire jobs in the tourism field, while 21 (42%) respondents are contented on the way of

their lifestyle. Traditional jobs stated by the locals were fishing, logging, farming, etc.

Together with this paper is the list of the 50 local respondents of El Nido town, where the

researchers based their findings and the vital information needed to come up with a reliable conclusion.

The information of the local respondents that were interviewed by the researchers in El Nido.

Names of the respondents were kept confidential. Majority of the Locals are involved in Tourism Related

jobs. Even though, their past occupation is more of agriculture, fishing and logging due to the growth of

Ecotourism in El Nido most of the locals there are now dependent in Hospitality Industry even if they do

not have enough background in the new industry they are now in to.

Tourists were also interviewed by the researchers – both local and foreign tourists. Several

questions related to the study were asked get the information in order to answer the statement of the

problem.

Sample size: 50 respondents

58%

42% yes

no

Figure 21: Percentage of

Locals to leave their

traditional way of living for

Tourism development

Frequency of Tourists' Visit

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Yes

First Time

Percentage Of Respondents

Figure 22: Percentage of

Frequency of Tourist's Visit

in El Nido

73

Table 9: Frequency of Visit of Tourist in El Nido

Figure 9 shows the result of the tourists’ visit in El Nido. It shows that most of the tourist

respondents answered that they are first timers in the town which occupied the 70% of the total number of

respondents. The 20% answered that going to El Nido was not the first time and they often visit Ek Nido.

10% answered that they don’t visit El Nido that often but they have been there.

The figure above shows the purpose of visit of the tourists. Multiple purposes are

possible. Result shows that most of the tourists visit El Nido for leisure purposes.

Frequency Percentage YES 10 20%

NO 5 10%

First time 35 70%

78%46%

12%

0

100Percentage of Respondents

Purpose of Visit

LEISURE SIGHTSEEING BUSINESS MATTER

Figure 23: Percentage of

Tourist Purpose of Visit in

El Nido

Tourists' Awareness that El Nido is a Protected Area

68%

32%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Yes

Percentage of Respondents

Figure 24: Percentage of Tourist's

Awareness that El Nido is a

Protected Area

74

Table 10: Tourist Awareness that El Nido is a Protected Area

Figure 11 shows that 68% of the tourists are aware that El Nido is considered as a

Protected Area while 32% are not aware of it. Some of the tourists said that they went to El Nido because

they are aware it is a protected area. They considered themselves as nature-lover.

Frequency Percentage

Willing 34 74%

NOT Willing 16 26%

Table 11: Tourist willingness to pay for Conservation Fee

As for the question whether the tourists are willing to pay for the conservation fee, figure

12 shows that 74% of the tourist respondents are willing to pay while 26% answered that they are not

willing to pay for it.

Frequency Percentage Aware 34 68%

NOT Aware 16 32%

Amount of the Tourists' Willingness to Pay

54%

16%

22%

8%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Php50

Php100

Percentage of Respondents

Willingness to Pay for Conservation Fee

74%

26%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Yes

Percentage of Respondents

Figure 25: Percentage of Tourist

willingness to pay for

Conservation Fee

Figure 26: Percentage of

Amount of the Tourist willing

to pay for Conservation Fee

75

Willingness to pay Frequency Percentage

Php 50 20 40%

Php 75 3 6%

Php 100 8 16%

Php 150 3 6%

NOT Willing 16 32%

Table 12: Willingness of Tourist to Pay for Conservation

After the willingness to pay, tourists were asked the amount they are willing to pay for the

conservation fee. Tourists who answered that they are willing to pay (34 respondents) stated their

choices. 40% are willing to pay for the lowest price given by the researchers; Php50. Table 12 shows the

frequency of their answers

Above figure (figure 14) shows the tourism activities undertaken by the tourists. Tourism

activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, spelunking, diving, mountaineering/trekking, and bird watching.

The 50 tourist respondents answered multiple answers.

Based from the results shown above, snorkeling is the most undertaken tourism activity in EL

Nido, followed by scuba diving. Negative effects of these on marine biodiversity are crucial. Marine

disturbance is one of the threats in these activities. It only shows that most of tourism activities are sea-

related that’s why; marine biodiversity is the most threaten

Tourism Activities

0

100Percentage of Respondents

SNORKLING DIVING

KAYAKING MOUNTAINEERING/TRECKING

SPELUNKING BIRD WATCHING/PHOTO SAFARI

Figure 14: Percentage Of Tourist Activities

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Table 13: Tourist Collecting Natural Souvenirs

In figure 15, the tourist respondents were asked whether they collect natural souvenirs such as

shells, sands, stones, rocks. Etc. 78% of them answered that they do not collect it because they are

aware that collection of these are prohibited while 22% admitted that they really collect natural souvenirs.

Frequency Percentage

Collecting natural souvenirs 11 22%

NOT Collecting natural souvenirs 39 78%

22%

78%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Yes

Percentage of Respondents

Figure 15: Percentage of Tourist

Collecting Natural Souvenirs

52%

48%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Yes

No

Percentage of Respondents

Figure 16: Percentage of the

need for Development in

Infrastructure perceived by the

tourist.

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Table 14: El Nido's need for Infrastructure as perceive by the Tourist

The result in figure 16 showed that a small difference in the answers of the tourists. The question

whether El Nido needs an improvement in terms of infrastructure were answered. 48% answered that it is

better to live it the way it is while 52% agreed that development of infrastructure is needed.

Table 15: El Nido's need for Superstructure development as perceive by the Tourist

Figure 17 shows that 52% of the tourists don’t want any development in terms of El Nido’s superstructure, while 42% believed that development of superstructure is needed for the sake of the tourists’ convenience.

Frequency Percentage

Yes 26 52%

No 24 48%

Frequency Percentage

Yes 21 42%

No 26 52%

52%

48%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Yes

No

Percentage of Respondents

Figure 17: Percentage of need of

development in El Nido in

Superstructure as percieve by the

Tourist

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Discussion of Impacts of Ecotourism in El Nido, Palawan

Technical Factor

The technical factor discusses the infrastructures and superstructures that can be found in the

Town of El Nido. These components of the technical factor are primarily built for the convenience of the

locals and tourists in El Nido town.

Infrastructure

The current infrastructures in El Nido are:

• Roads connecting Taytay to El Nido and Circumferential Major Road connecting

barrios of the municipality.

• Municipal building for the offices of the key people in the local government of El Nido.

• Communication and Internet system of the two major communication providers the

Globe Telecoms and Smart Communications.

• Waste and Sewage facilities of El Nido town have their sewage and landfill area for their

waste and they encourage the segregation of the waste as part of heir waste

management. According to the Municipality of El Nido, they have enough space

to accommodate all the waste of the town.

• Port area for the small vessel that transport cargos and passenger from Manila and other

places in nearby islands of Palawan. The El Nido port is under the supervision of

Philippine Ports Authority, Coast guards and Marines.

• Education system in El Nido offers Public and private type of Elementary and High

School education for their locals.

However, there is need for the municipal government of El Nido to improve the health services,

financial institution and water facilities.

Superstructure

The current Superstructures in El Nido are:

• Resorts in El Nido belong to different categories from A to AAA type of resort. The

Frontline resort of El Nido is the World Class El Nido Resorts, the Miniloc and Lagen

Islands.

• Accommodations in El Nido come in different types. There are various types of

accommodations available it can be Native cottages, Inns, Pension houses.

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• Restaurants give more excitement to the tourist. El Nido offers the known Bird’s Nest

Soup and Vietnamese Foods like Chao Long. Various restaurants also offer different

kinds of cuisine.

• Pump boats in El Nido is used for the sightseeing trips to the islands of El Nido in Bacuit

Bay. They also have an organization that handles the operation of the pump boats in El

Nido.

• Visitor Information Office the local tourism office in El Nido serves as Visitor Information

Office. They give maps and other information to the tourist during their stay in El Nido.

• Route for Island Hopping serves as a trail to follow accordingly by the tourist. El Nido is a

Protected Area that is why not all the islands can be explored by the tourist. LGU and

NGOs in El Nido provide names for the islands for the convenience of everyone.

Above is the Map of the El Nido town where tourism activities are mostly done. Most of the

establishments are tourism related, (e.g. cottages, restaurants, souvenir shops). The infrastructures are

still not adequate to sustain the needs of its locals and tourists. The samples of the inadequacies are the

electricity supply and the construction of the cemented roads. The 12 hour supply of electricity is from

6pm up to 6am. The construction of the roads within El Nido and going to El Nido from Taytay. For their

superstructures, most of these are for tourism purposes. Considering that El Nido is a Protected Area, the

establishments are required to comply with the Department Administrative Order (DAO) that mandates

the establishment owners to comply with the zoning requirements and environmental protection.

Picture 2: Map of El Nido town

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Social Factor

The Social factor deals with the distinctive culture of the locals in the town of El Nido.

Cultural heritage in ecotourism spot is considered as a main ingredient in order for it to qualify as

an ecotourism spot. Another reason is that this distinct culture can be another motivation for the

tourist to visit the place of the Town of El Nido.

Culture

As a part of the things to consider in Ecotourism is the rich culture of the place.

The vital elements of forming a culture that is present in El Nido:

Indigenous Tribes

The Cuyonin is the local inhabitants of El Nido. Their genealogy is the first

who conserves the nature of El Nido.

Local Customs and Practices

The way of life in El Nido is plain and simple. Close to nature where they are

sourcing out all their needs. In spite of the modern time the traces of primeval ethnicity is

still present in the everyday lives of the locals.

Local Community

The local community in El Nido grew as the years pass by;

the majority of the population of El Nido is first and second

generation migrants. Few foreigners also found a home in El Nido

where they can retire.

Environmental Factor

The Environmental factor discuss about the another vital component in considering El

Nido as a tourism spot. It talks about the natural resources in El Nido wherein it contributes a big

part in reckon of El Nido as a Protected Area and an ecotourism spot in Northern Palawan.

Biodiversity

Knowing that Palawan is the Philippine Last Ecological Frontier, it is evidently

seen in El Nido the biodiversity in their flora and fauna. This becomes the major reason to declare

El Nido as a Protected Area.

Aesthetic Value

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The beauty of El Nido like the limestone cliffs, white sand islands and islets, lagoons,

caves and corals captures the heart of the tourists that are visiting the place. Undeniably to

experience the nature is the main purpose of the tourists that are really at ease in El Nido.

Existing Resources

Resources in El Nido are bountiful with all the gifts of nature. The tourists

consume the resources of El Nido as expected, but it is mainly on their food, water and

energy consumption. Moreover, the harvesting of Bird’s nest is also one of the

consumable resources of El Nido wherein locals can also generate income from it.

Physical Environment

In tourism related activity in El Nido the exploitation of the nature is

inevitable. Like the usage of motor pump boats that disturb the marine life

underneath the water. The island hopping trips for the tourist, sometimes

the waste of the tourist is left behind in the island and polluting the

beaches and coastal areas.

Other Industries

The Non-tourism related industry also has an effect on the environment. Like the

expansion of the port, the road construction, putting up of power plants. This other

industries will also be directly affecting the environment due to air pollution and other

improper waste management.

Weather

Weather here in the Philippines vary, because this is a tropic country most likely

the heat here is high. The excessive heat can also be an agent for the destruction of the

ecological assets of El Nido. Like the forest fires and coral bleaching.

Economic Factor

The Economic factor discusses the supply and demand of the commodity and needs

of Locals and Tourists in the town of El Nido. In this part of the discussion, the difference of each

economic component and how they affect each other thus affecting the locals and the tourists.

Supply

The supply in the town of El Nido is not sufficient for the locals. Adding the influx of

tourists also contributes to the consumption of supply that would lead to the increase of

demand. Considering that the town of El Nido is located in a remote area, the supplies cannot

be replenished immediately.

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Demand

The demand for the commodities in El Nido is increasing. The populace of the

municipality is rapidly growing due to the tourism activities in El Nido and large number of

migrants.

Price

Prices of commodities in El Nido are high. This is the effect of the low in

commodity supply and high in demand from the locals and the tourists. Knowing that El Nido

is a tourist destination and since the tourists are willing to pay for their stay, prices of

commodities are increasing. Locals are affected with these price increases.

Policies, Rules and Regulations Governing the Town of El Nido, Palawan

Different rules and regulations, laws and other policies are being imposed by the national

and local government thus limiting and stringently monitoring all the activities in El Nido. These

rules and regulations, laws and policies are divided in biodiversity conservation concerns and

environmental protection. The researchers’ key informants provide the researchers these rules:

• BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the DENR is mandated to formulate

policies, plans and programs on establishment and management of protected areas, conservation

of biological diversity and nature conservation and education.

The National Integrated Protected Areas system or NIPAS law provides for the

establishment and management of national integrated protected areas system which focus on the

outstanding remarkable areas and biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare and

endangered species of plants and animals, bio-geographic zones and related ecosystems,

whether terrestrial, wetland or marine.

The law also provides flexibility in the management of protected areas through the

establishment of management zones such as strict protection zone and multiple-use zone,

among others. Ecotourism developments such as nature trail establishment, construction of

visitor center and cottages, etc. are allowed within the recreational zone including multiple use

zone and buffer zone, as maybe appropriate. Community participation in the

management/development of ecotourism sites is encouraged.

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The Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act scopes the application of

the law which includes all wildlife species in all areas including protected areas and critical

habitats and exotic species which are traded, cultured, maintained and/or bred in

captivity/propagated.

The DENR in coordination with the DOT, takes lead in the promotion of caves classified

for ecotourism and in the cave visitor management in accordance with Executive Order No. 111

(Establishing the Guidelines for Ecotourism Development in the Philippines) and Joint DENR-

DOT Memorandum Circular No. 98-02 (Guidelines for Ecotourism Development in the

Philippines).

The Executive Order (EO 111) established an institutional mechanism and framework

for ecotourism development in the Philippines. This is to enhance partnership from among wide

range of individuals and organizations to work together for ecotourism. The order also provides

for the formulation of Ecotourism Strategies to set direction for the ecotourism development in the

Philippines.

• ENVIRONMENTAL

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR) is specifically tasked to recommend rules and regulations for the

environment impact assessment and provide technical assistance for their implementation and

monitoring.

Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) provides an effective planning,

management and regulatory tool in addressing environmental problems in the country specifically

in assessing those development actions conforms to basic principles of sustainable development.

However, the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan is an act adopting the strategic

environment plan for Palawan, creating the administrative machinery to its implementation,

converting the Palawan Integrated Area Development Project Office to its support staff, providing

funds thereof, and for other purposes.

According to the El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area the Presidential

Proclamation 32 states in 1998 that El Nido is a Protected Area. The Protected Area spans

90,321 hectares in total, 60% of it is marine territory. The Protected Area is covers all 18

barangays of El Nido and 3 barangays of the neighboring town of municipality of Taytay.

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The Departmental Administrative Order (DAO) is a law created and implemented by

the government line agencies such as Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Department of Agriculture (DA) for

environmental protection.

• Government Policies

The policies imposed by the government are used to stringently monitor the

different activities of the stakeholders in El Nido.

Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) is a document issued by DENR-

EMB after a positive review of an ECC application, certifying that based on the

representations of the proponent, the proposed project or undertaking will not cause

significant negative impact on the environment. It contains the specific measures and

conditions that the project proponent has to undertake before and during the operation of

a project.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process that involves evaluating

and predicting the likely impacts of a project including cumulative impacts on the

environment during construction, commissioning, operation and abandonment.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a comprehensive study of the

significant impacts of a project on the environment. It includes an Environmental

Management Plan/ Programme that the proponent will fund and implement to protect the

environment.

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CHAPTER V

Conclusions and Recommendations

Summary of findings

This research was conducted for the purpose of knowing the impacts of Ecotourism

Development in El Nido, Palawan as a Protected Area. The Scope of the study is mainly the

different aspect of Ecotourism and the relationships of each component. The respondents of the

study were the local residents, local officials and the tourist of El Nido. The seven-month period of

the study was from the June 2006 up to January 2007. Descriptive method was used to utilize the

research and various methods of gathering information were chiefly normative survey technique

to gather data from the locals and tourist that served as the vital information for the study.

Interview was also conducted to the key people involved for the conservation and facilitation of El

Nido. Observation was also used to evaluate and experience the ecotourism itself in El Nido. For

gathering secondary data, the library and internet research was used to source out information.

Data and information from different clippings, documents and other supporting papers were also

gathered.

Question: What are the impacts of ecotourism modernization in the town of El Nido, Palawan?

Out of 50 respondents for the locals, 100% are aware that the El Nido is a protected

area. Majority of the local respondents are pro conservation, others are pro modernization, and

few answered both.

As for the 50 respondents of the tourists, majority of them are aware that El Nido is a

protected area while few are not aware of it. As for their stand whether they are pro

modernization or pro conservation, majority are pro conservation.

The five factors affected by the ecotourism development are the technical, social,

environmental, and economic factors were also discussed in the thesis. Each aspect has a pro

and cons in respect to ecotourism perspective wherein the combination of these aspects depicts

the holistic impact of ecotourism in El Nido.

Technical factor discusses the infrastructure and superstructure within El Nido and how it

contributes to the ecotourism of the municipality. Social factor is concerning about the culture and

the way of living of the people of El Nido. Environmental factor discusses about the effects of

ecotourism development in biodiversity (marine and terrestrial) of El Nido. Political aspect is the

presentation of different laws, rules and regulations governing environmental preservation of El

Nido and guide for ecotourism development. Economic factor discusses about the distribution of

all the supply in parallel to the demands of the people in El Nido.

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Conclusion

Based on the analysis and interpretation of the data and information gathered by the

researchers during the stay in El Nido town, conclusions of the study were formulated.

Development of ecotourism in the town of El Nido has a large impact – both positive and

negative. This Ecotourism development has its domino effect whether on the positive or the

negative side.

ECOTOURISM

DEVELOPMENT

The Ecotourism development is positive in terms of; it provides convenience to the

tourists in meeting the needs during the tourists’ stay and accessibility of the town from the

different key places. It is also an advantage for the local people because development of

ecotourism would bring number of tourists that would generate income as well as jobs for locals

in a tourism related establishments.

But as much as the researchers want to look it on the brighter side, the negative effects

of the development cannot hide from the entire positive things that it brings to El Nido.

ECOTOURISM

DEVELOPMENT

Based on the El Nido’s environmental nature’s status, natural resources are starting to

run down because of the increasing volume of tourists. Locals and the tourist are unconsciously

harming and exploiting the natural resources to sustain their needs and wants.

The high cost of living is the effect of the high in demand for the needs and

unsustainable supply. Because of the rapid growth of the population in El Nido, prices of the basic

commodity also heighten up. For that reason, the locals are much affected. Another reason for

the high cost of living in El Nido is that, it is considered as a world class tourist spot.

Another negative impact is the pollution. Increase in the population also increases the

wastes it produces. Therefore, since the population is continually increasing, it wouldn’t surprise

the researchers that El Nido will not be able to handle waste management in the future.

The last negative impact that the researchers found out is the extinction of El Nido’s

cultural identity. Because of tourism, and for the sake of hospitability, the town is adjusting for the

tourists, therefore, experiencing cultural diffusion. People who originally inhabits in El Nido are

= JOB OPPORTUNITIES / INCOME / CONVENIENCE

/ ACCESSIBILITY

= DEPLETION OF NATURAL RESOURCES / OVER

EXPLOITATION OF THE PROTECTED AREA / HIGH

COST OF LIVING / POLLUTION / EXTINCTION OF

CULTURAL IDENTITY

87

called Cuyunin. They have their own language but you will barely hear it from the locals because

everyone is adjusting for the tourists.

El Nido is known to be the world’s last frontier but the researchers think that it

wouldn’t take long unless the locals, LGU, NGOs will not work hand in hand for the protection and

conservation of their paradise. There are so many plans for the development and conservation of

El Nido but until now, most of them were not implemented successfully. There are so many laws

and policies made for conservation and development of El Nido, but the law enforcement is poor.

Recommendation

The researchers would like to recommend the implementation and promotion of

sustainable development in El Nido, Palawan wherein plans and development will be strictly

implemented and are guided by environmental laws. Ordinances and policies for environmental

conservation must be promulgated rigorously to achieve sustainable development. Weekly

monitoring the plans and programs in development to maintain El Nido’s pristine ecological

condition and at the same time, be a developed ecotourism spot.

However, specific recommendations are as follows:

1. Relocation of the proposed Ro-Ro ramp from the El Nido town’s pier to open

water at the other west coastal side of the municipality wherein there is no need

to disturb corals and undergo dredging. Thus, the major route of the different

shipping lines is passing on this side of El Nido’s municipality.

2. Cultural preservation wherein the Local Government Unit of Palawan, particularly

the Municipality of the town of El Nido will promote nationalism within the locals

wherein the LGU will lead the preservation of the Cuyunin culture despite of

cultural diffusion.

3. Environmental Awareness through dissemination of information and setting

awareness by conducting seminars and including it to curriculum of primary and

secondary education. Awareness of the people can lead to better protection of

their natural assets.

4. Preserving biologically important public lands specifically the terrestrial wherein

the Department of Public Works and Highways will not sacrifice the terrestrial life

in building roads and highways as part of development.

5. Limitation of tourism activities in order to avoid biological disturbance and over

exploitation of a protected area. Activities such as excessive use pump boats

used in island hopping have negative impacts on the marine life. Therefore,

promoting non-disturbing activity on marine life such as kayaking, mountain

trekking would be advisable.

88

6. Collection of conservation fee upon entering El Nido wherein a toll gate or booth

will be built in the boundary of El Nido and Taytay and conservation fee will be

collected. These fees collected will be used for the utilization of the Protected

Area thus execute the sustainable development for El Nido.

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TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN EL NIDO

COAST OF THE TOWN SNAKE ISLAND BIG LAGOON

LAGEN ISLAND CATHEDRAL CAVE MINILOC ISLAND

90

EL NIDO’S AIRPORT

EL NIDO’S PORT AREA

CALLE REAL MUNICIPAL HALL SCHOOL

91

BALAY TUBAY – Premier Restaurant in El Nido

MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

EL NIDO-TAYTAY ROAD MALAMPAYA BOUNDARY EL NIDO’S GASOLINE STATION

92

Local Respondents

Local Respondents Profile

(Sample size: 50)

Respondents Years of Residency Occupation Barangay

1. 27 Businessman Buena Suerte

2. 9 Bartender Buena Suerte

3. 1 Souvenir shop manager Buena Suerte

4. 8 Restaurant Owner Buena Suerte

5. 18 Tinigiban

6. 20 Maligaya

7. 3 Asst. Manager of Resort Maligaya

8. 11 Lounge Attendant Corong-Corong

9. 25 Private Employee Villa Libertad

10. 22 Sales Lady Buena Suerte

11. 4 Housewife Masagana

12. 20 Masagana

13. 6 Labor Cabugao

14. 16 Branch Leader Masagana

15. 16 Masagana

16. 16 Masagana

17. 16 Asst Accountant of Resort Masagana

18. 16 Student Masagana

19. 22 Handicraft Maligaya

20. 10 Island Tour Helper Cabugao

21. 1 Waitress Masagana

22. 19 Utility Masagana

23. 39 Pres. Of POOA Masagana

24. 21 Waitress Masagana

25. 27 Resort Helper Bebeladan

26. 20 Housewife Buena Suerte

27. 53 Agent of Atienza Lines Buena Suerte

28. 49 Agent of Atieza Lines Buena Suerte

29. 6 Fisherman Mabini

30. 24 Boatman Manlag

31. 6 Tourguide Buena Suerte

32. 1 Vendor Buena Suerte

33. 20 Food Server Masagana

34. 25 Boatman Manlag

35. 6 Barber Buena Suerte

36. 30 PumpBoat Operator Buena Suerte

37. 37 Speedboat Operator Buena Suerte

38. 34 TKDC Employee Buena Suerte

39. 45 Tourguide Buena Suerte

40. 36 Private Employee Buena Suerte

41. 36 Pastor Buena Suerte

42. 26 Technician Buena Suerte

43. 1 Helper Buena Suerte

44. 3 Store Owner Buena Suerte

45. 41 Restaurant Owner San Fernando

46. 30 Fisherman and Carpenter Masagana

47. 17 Pastor Tiniguiban

48. 20 Farmer Buena Suerte

49. 47 Resort Helper Buena Suerte

50. 35 Pump boat operator Buena Suerte

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Primary Data

The following persons are the key persons being interviewed by the

researchers for acquiring reliable data.

- World Wide Fund for Nature- Philippines (WWF-Phils.) / Mr.

Rene Jay Dela Calzada – El Nido Head Project Manager

- Municipal Planning and Development Council (MPDC)/ Ms.

Myrna Dripon – Zoning Officer

- Tourism Office- El Nido, Palawan/ Mr. Arvin Acosta – Tourism

officer

-Protected Area Superintendent (PASu)/ Mr. Raymond Osorio –

Officer in Charge

-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau- Philippine National

Ecotourism Programme (PAWB-PNEP)/ Ms. Pricilla Calimag –

National Project Team Leader

- Island Transvoyager, Inc. (ITI)/ Mr. Glenn Solis – Lio Airport

Manager

- Ten Knots Development Corporation (TKDC)/ Ms. Mariglo

Laririt – Head Coordinator

- Office of the Vice Mayor- Municipality of El Nido/ Hon. Leonor

Corral – Vice Mayor

- Philippine Coast Guard- El Nido / PFC Isidro Sobong – OIC

-Philippine Ports Authority- El Nido/ Mr. Esperidion Baac – OIC

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Tourist Respondents Activities undertaken by tourists in EL Nido, Palawan

Multiple activities possible (sample size: 50)

Names were kept confidential

Respondents Nationalities Snorkeling Trekking Scuba Diving Kayaking Beach/

Relaxing

Others

1. Filipino ✓

2. British ✓

3. Filipino Photo safari

4. Filipino ✓

5. Filipino ✓

6. English ✓

7. English ✓ Spelunking

8. Australian ✓ Kite surfing

9. Japanese ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

10. French ✓ ✓

11. French ✓

12. French ✓ Bird

watching

13. Istaelite ✓ ✓

14. Japanese ✓ ✓

15. Korean ✓

16. Filipino ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

17. Korean ✓

18. Filipino ✓ ✓ ✓

19. Chinese ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

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20. Filipino-American ✓ ✓

Respondents Nationalities Snorkeling Trekking Scuba Diving Kayaking Beach/

Relaxing

Others

21. Korean ✓

22. Korean

23. American ✓ ✓ ✓

24. Australian ✓

25. Filipino-Australian ✓

26. Australian ✓ ✓ ✓

27. Australian ✓

28. American Boat rides

29. American Boat rides

30. Swedish ✓ ✓

31. Swedish

32. Swedish ✓

33. Australian ✓

34. Filipino ✓

35. Filipino Drinking

36. Filipino ✓ ✓ ✓

37. Filipino ✓ ✓ ✓

38. Swedish ✓ ✓ ✓

39. American Fishing

40. Japanese Friends

41. American ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

42. Swedish ✓ ✓

43. British ✓ ✓

44. Australian ✓

104

45. Swiss ✓

46. Scottish ✓

Respondents

Nationalities Snorkeling Trekking Scuba Diving Kayaking Beach/

Relaxing

Others

47. British ✓

48. British ✓ ✓ Bird

watching

49. Filipino ✓

50. American ✓ ✓