Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez led the groundbreaking of the P13 million “Birder’s Paradise” Information Center and Tourist One-Stop-Shop at the Gawahon Ecological Park in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, June 11.
The “Gawahon, A Birder’s Paradise – A Haven for Sustainable and Inclusive Eco-tourism” project of the Victorias City government is one of the Tourism Champions Challenge winners of the Department of Tourism.
The P13 million Information Center and Tourist One-Stop-Shop, the first sub-project under the broader “Birder’s Paradise” initiative, will be funded with the P8 million the city government won during the DOT challenge and a P5 million grant from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The facility will serve as an educational and orientation hub for tourists as it will have a visitor orientation area, viewing deck, interpretive galleries on birds and native species, and a shop that will sell locally crafted souvenirs, Benitez said.
These are all aimed at enriching the visitor experience while promoting environmental education and community-based tourism, he said.
Positioning Gawahon Eco-Park as a world-class birding destination will stimulate not only local economic growth but also bring benefits to neighboring municipalities through increased tourism spillover, Benitez said.
To formalize the project’s implementation a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement was signed during the event by Frasco, Benitez and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Assistant Chief Operating Officer Jetro Nicolas Lozada.
The Gawahon Ecological Park is home to 106 bird species, more than 55 mammals, and herpetofauna, many of which are endemic, endangered, and threatened, Benitez said.
“Keeping this site as a sustainable eco-tourism destination is important in promoting long-term conservation and protection of the area’s rich biodiversity and ecosystems. It also provides a sustainable livelihood for the local community living within and around the park,” Benitez said.
The existing attractions and facilities at the Gawahon Eco-Park are a boating lagoon, accommodation facilities that include duplex cottages, a viewing deck villa, and staff house, multipurpose hall, swimming pool, the Nanjo City – Victorias City Friendship Park featuring a traditional Okinawan House, and its multi-tiered waterfalls, Benitez added.
DOT SECRETARY
Frasco commended Victorias City for its forward-thinking proposal and reaffirmed the DOT’s strong support for initiatives that position eco-tourism as a catalyst for inclusive progress and environmental resilience.
She emphasized that the Tourism Champions Challenge was created to empower LGUs to craft localized tourism solutions that reflect both national priorities and community needs.
“Gawahon – A Birder’s Paradise, is proof that when national vision aligns with local determination, we can build something truly meaningful and lasting,” she said.
Gawahon is emerging as a birding destination, sought after by local and international birders who visit to capture species such as the Southern Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Flame-templed Babbler, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, and Spotted Wood Kingfisher — part of the area’s rich avian biodiversity, she added.
GOVERNOR LACSON
Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena delivered a massage of support on behalf of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Lacson commended Victorias City for championing a vision that balances tourism with conservation, and economic advancement with ecological integrity.
“The Gawahon Eco-Park is more than just a beautiful landscape, it is a sanctuary of life. The rare birds inhabiting Gawahon are symbols of our island’s unique ecological identity,” he said.
The provincial government strongly supports the protection and enhancement of Gawahon Eco-Park because it is a symbol of responsible ecotourism, where communities benefit from the preservation of nature rather than its exploitation, Lacson said.
GAWAHON HOSTEL
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also held for the newly completed Gawahon Hostel on Wednesday afternoon.
The facility addresses the increasing demand for accommodation, particularly during major events such as scouting, athletic competitions, and seminars, Benitez said.*