What DOT now says: Conversion of closed mines into ecotourism sites eyed

Will Marinduque be in the picture?

THE Duterte administration has at least P80 million in funds to develop potential ecotourism sites and help support communities affected by the closure of select mining areas.

In Photo: Mount Makiling, an Asean Heritage Park, serves as background to happy children. The mountain and its environs has multiple purposes: field laboratory for research on environment and biodiversity, an ecotourism attraction, relaxation spots through its hot springs, and a haven for mountain climbers and sports enthusiasts.

This was disclosed as Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo said she is ready to sit down  with Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez on potential ecotourism areas.

In a text message to the BusinessMirror, Teo said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) can develop closed mining areas into ecotourism sites. “We are actually talking of ecotourism so we can help communities,” she said. The Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary chairs Tieza, an attached agency formerly known as the Philippine Tourism Authority.

Asked if exploratory talks have already been held with Lopez regarding potential ecotourism sites, Teo said, “Not yet. [But] I will sit down with her on this.”

Lopez recently announced the completion of a mining audit by her department, and said she was determined to close down several mines that have violated environmental laws and those in watershed areas. Watersheds help protect the supply of drinking water of local communities, as well as irrigation water for farms.

Will DOT not ignore Marinduque this time, once named as 'one of world's top islands', in its ecotourism conversion plan?

She added that the local communities in the closed mining areas will earn more if their sites are devoted to ecotourism activities.

Tieza COO Guiller Asido explained that “part of our mandate is to develop ecotourism projects. And we have identified this effort on ecotourism as a major initiative for 2017”. - Read full story on BusinessMirror

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