Sunday, September 18, 2005
Lake Sebu eyed as next Region 12 eco-tourism capital
LAKE SEBU, South Cotabato -- The Philippine government will begin next month a three-year eco-tourism development program that aims to transform this scenic town into the next tourism capital of southern and central Mindanao.
Lake Sebu Mayor Basilio Salif said the government of New Zealand has released the P22 million grant (US$391,633) it earlier promised to fund the development of the town's famed lakes, waterfalls, and other natural spots.
"The development work will basically focus on the rehabilitation and improvement of our natural spots and the setting of some mechanisms to make our tourism program sustainable", the mayor told reporters here Thursday.
Salif said the initial work will begin in early October with the massive cleanup of the area's three major lakes Sebu, Lahit and Seloton--and the seven waterfalls along the Lenon River.
Also up for development is the Traankini spring in Barangay Lamhalak, which has been considered as among the cleanest in the province.
Salif said aside from the rehabilitation of the environs of the natural spots, the program also plans to establish eco-tourism resorts to attract more domestic as well as foreign tourists.
"The program is very important for our town since we primarily draw our economic activities from these natural spots. Their development essentially means the development of our entire municipality," Salif said.
The town is mainly inhabited by the T'boli tribal folks, who thrive by farming and fishing in the three lakes. Lake Sebu is also a major producer of Tilapia and other freshwater fishes.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 18, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
