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SA gitna ng tensyon sa West Philippine Sea, isang panukalang batas ang inihain sa Senado kaugnay ng planong isulong ang turismo sa mga islang bahagi ng pinagtatalunan teritoryo sa gawing lalawigan ng Palawan.
Sa kumpas ni Senador Sonny Angara na tumatayong chairman ng Committee on Tourism, isinalang ang Senate Bill 1166, target ideklara ang Pag-asa group of islands sa Palawan bilang special ecological tourism zone. Pasok rin sa panukalang Pag-asa Cluster Island ni Angara ang Parola, Kota at Panata sa bayan ng Kalayaan na nabangit na lalawigan.
Nasa layong 480 kilometro mula sa Southwestern Palawan, pinakamalaki ang Pag-asa Island sa cluster na okupado ng Pilipinas at pangalawang pinakamalaking isla sa buong Kalayaan Island Group na mas kilala bilang Spratlys.
“Pag-asa Island is the only Philippine-occupied island in the Spratlys that is inhabited by civilians. We are talking about pristine waters that are rich in biodiversity, thus making it an ideal destination for tourists,” ayon kay Angara.
Bukod sa pagbibigay ng kabuhayan sa munisipalidad ng Kalayaan, kumbinsido si Angara na mas mapagtitibay ang karapatan ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea sa bisa ng isang malusog na turismo na naturang lugar..
“A Pag-asa Island Ecotourism Cluster Governing Board will be created, composed of the Governor of Palawan as the chairperson; the Congressional Representative of the First District of Palawan as co-chairperson; DENR Regional Executive Director for Region IV-B as vice chairperson; Department of Tourism Regional Director for Region IV-B as co-vice chairperson; Mayor of the Municipality of Kalayaan; barangay chairperson of Pag-Asa Island; the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command chief; one member of a non-government organization whose advocacy is environmental preservation; one member of the academe; one representative of the business sector; and one representative from the private sector,” ayon sa panukala.
Bukod sa SB 1166, tinalakay rin sa komite ang Senate Bills 238 at 1615 – gayundin ang Senate Resolution 472, na pawang naglalayon itulak ang alternatibong aktibidad na pwedeng humikayat sa mas maraming dayuhan.
Idedeklara din bilang ecotourism zone sa SB 238 na inihain ni Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, ang Northern Antique Protected Seascape and Landscape na matatagpuan sa Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, at Tibiao sa lalawigan ng Antique.
“By declaring the areas as part of an ecotourism zone, it will help develop and promote them as community-based ecological tourist destinations, generate more investments, create livelihood opportunities, and protect the natural resources within the areas including mangroves, other aquatic plants and migratory and local birds,” giit ni Angara.
Layunin naman ng SR 472 na inakda ni Angara paunlarin ang potensyal ng Pilipinas sa larangan ng sustainable nature-based tourism (NBT).
“NBT covers a wide-scope of activities that is based on the natural attractions of any given area. This includes nature tours, fishing, hiking, bird watching, kayaking and beachcombing,” aniya pa.
“Conservation and sustainability are at the heart of our resolution. In promoting NBT and capitalizing on the wealth of resources that we have to offer, we must always ensure that our rich biodiversity will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.”
Kikilalanin naman sa SB 1615 ang Baler sa Aurora bilang lugar kung saan nagsimula ang surfing sa Pilipinas.
“There are numerous accounts that support the status of Baler being the birthplace of Philippine surfing. As early as the 1970s, Baler has been frequented by foreign surfers and even became a part of one of the most iconic films in history, ‘Apocalypse Now.’ Surfing in Aurora continues to thrive and at the center of it all is Baler,” pagtatapos ng senador.
