While it is true Negros Occidental has lost much of its forest, both terrestrial and mangroves, as well as the declining quality of other natural ecosystems due to conversion into other purposes, like industrial development, agriculture, mining, road construction, and settlement, there are still several areas in the province that are worth protecting and conserving primarily due to their important life-support functions. In addition, these sites are potentials for nature-based tourism, if only the true concept of ecotourism, meaning ecological tourism, is properly planned and executed.
Any development, however, that will deform, alter or destroy the natural setting of our environment is absolutely contrary to what ecotourism is all about. Ecotourism development must be sensitive and respectful to culture and social dynamics, and, therefore, it should promote and provide opportunity for local communities to participate and benefit from it. In most cases, if not all, ecotourism heavily relies on nature as its main feature and attraction that is why it is strongly associated with nature-based tourism.
Negros Occidental has four nationally declared and legislated protected areas that are significant when it comes to ecotourism. These are the Northern Negros Natural Park, Sagay Marine Reserve, Mount Kanla-on Natural Park (partly covered by Canlaon City in Negros Oriental), and Tañon Straight Protected Seascapes (with boundaries shared between the provinces of Negros Oriental and Cebu). It is unfortunate though that through the years all these sites have faced numerous challenges leading to their diminishing natural conditions. For instance, a large part of the NNNP and MKNP has long been converted into other uses, primarily agriculture and settlement.
The remaining natural areas of the NNNP and MKNP require strong protection mechanisms if we want them to serve one of the objectives by which they are established, and that includes nature conservation, education, recreation, and scientific purposes. These activities should be highly controlled and regulated since protected areas have various limitations and restrictions. The SMR and TSPL are similarly not spared from destructive activities, like dynamite and other illegal fishing activities and mangrove destruction and conversion. In spite of numerous concerns, these two marine protected areas have still a lot to offer when it comes to coastal and marine ecotourism.
Several weeks after I returned home to Negros Occidental early this year, I had the opportunity to travel to the southern part of the province and I noticed the flourishing tourism development, particularly in the town of Cauayan and Sipalay City. The presence of several resorts and other tourism facilities were visible, and the once known mining and commercial logging areas are now capitalizing on their remaining natural environment to stir economic activities.
Except for Kabankalan, that devoted some of its investment in mountain tourism amenities, other towns and cities in the south are concentrating on promoting and developing their beaches, and coastal and marine sites as tourist destinations. It may be attributable to the scenic and beautiful coastlines and seascapes of southern Negros Occidental, which can be seen beginning in Cauayan. The town of Ilog has started to promote river tourism, obviously because of the presence of the Ilog River, one of the biggest river channels in Negros Island. Ilog further offers food tourism in Bocana, one of its coastal barangays, where restaurants and other food shops are available along its mangrove forests.
Southern Negros Occidental would not be complete as a tourism destination without mentioning Danjugan Island in Barangay Bulata, Cauayan. This island, which is managed by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Foundation Inc., is a multi-awarded site for conservation education and ecotourism. Adding to the list of tourism destinations in the south is the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area that spans from Bago City to Ilog. This site, the 7th recognized Wetlands of International Importance of the Philippines under the Ramsar Convention, offers magnificent coastal views, and where numerous water and migratory birds abound that would surely delight bird watchers and other nature enthusiasts.
Based on what I have seen and observed through the years, most of the nature-based tourism development in Negros Occidental is lacking the key elements of ecotourism. While these establishments are dependent on natural assets, consideration to the sensitivity and fragility of the environment is not fully observed, including carrying capacity. Danjugan Island and Suyac Island in Sagay are the only two islands in the province known to me that observe limits on the number of visitors in a given time.
Mount Kanla-on was once known as the “mass trekking” destination of the country because thousands were trekking to its active crater the whole year round, especially during Holy Week. When I was the MKNP park superintendent, in 1995 to 2002, I recommended to the Protected Area Management Board the imposition of carrying capacity on trekking activities, which I believe is still being implemented to date.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism activities were put on hold, particularly when the Enhanced Community Quarantine was declared nationwide last year. Somehow, such situation provided relief to our environment, and it gave space for nature to breath and rejuvenates. I was hoping that the pandemic will usher a paradigm shift in tourism development in the country, but it seems many tourism establishments started to get back to “business as usual” in spite of the continuing threat of the deadly COVID-19.*