The government, through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), will spend about P30 million to develop ecotourism projects in the Turtle Islands of Tawi-Tawi province.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, Luwalhati R. Antonino, chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said the amount will come mainly from the TIEZA for projects that will not only enhance the islands’ tourism potentials but also help preserve the endangered marine species in the area.
“Through these initiatives, the residents of Turtle Islands can earn sustainable livelihood by promoting this famous attraction while ensuring the protection of the endangered species and their nesting sites,” said Ms. Antonino.
The MinDA chief said the projects include turtle watching lounges, elevated wooden boardwalks, and several wooden cottages that will be built on the islands of Taganak, Bakungan and Baguan, three of the six major islands in the province.
The wooden boardwalks and turtle watching lounges will be built to protect the turtles from tourists who visit the islands as the reptiles lay their eggs at night. “The facilities will also allow watchers to observe this rare experience without bothering the nesting creatures,” the agency said.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has declared marine turtles endangered because of their continuing decline in population.
The Philippines and Malaysia signed an agreement in 1996 on the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area, “making it the first trans-boundary protected area in the world.”
Based on the government data, the islands are visited by about 2,000 green sea and hawkbill turtle nesters every year. The Turtle Islands are home to 34 avian species, 27 coral species, 128 fish species, 62 marine flora species and other wild species such as fruit and field bats and several reptiles.
Ms. Antonino said the projects are part of the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines — East ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Growth Area initiatives, specifically in protecting the environment and among those conceptualized within the Greater Sulu-Sulawesi Corridor.
“Tourists visit us to witness marine turtles lay their eggs or watch the hatchlings struggle out of their nests and make their way to the sea. We need the appropriate facilities that will not only accommodate our tourists, but also ensure the safety and protection of the turtles and their nesting sites,” said Gov. Sadikul A. Sahali.
Only numbering in the hundreds monthly, visitors to the islands are mostly nature enthusiasts and environmentalists.
Mr. Sahali added that setting up the facilities will help the province tap its tourism potentials as tourists would have facilities for scuba diving, island hopping, swimming, and local community visits.
“Through these tourist arrivals, we want to secure a sustainable means of livelihood for our people,and also ensure that our natural resources are well-preserved and protected,” he added.
