Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Talomo waters eyed as protected area
THE City Government of Davao is now working for the declaration of Talomo waters as protected area due to the presence of World War II shipwrecks.
Davao City Councilor Leo Avila in Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao said the proposal was made after last week's incident where one person was killed while two others were severely injured after they salvaged materials from Sagami Maru, a Japanese warship that sank off Talomo waters in 1942.
Avila said there are about 10 warships in the Talomo waters that either sank or were "scuttled (purposely sunk)" by the Japanese navy at the end of the World War II.
These shipwrecks, he added, could attract tourist divers from all over the world just like what is happening now in Coron, Palawan where about 20 sunken ships from the past wars are now being visited by foreign divers.
Tourism Regional Director Sonya Garcia said the prospect of diving spots, as tourist attraction, is high, adding that even the local community could benefit from such a program.
Garcia said each diver could be charged P100 as user's fee by the community once the tourism program in the area is in place.
Aside from being declared a protected area by the city, officials also wanted the area to be declared a World War II heritage site so as to entice more tourists.
Avila said they have already started their consultation with the different sectors.
Likewise, they are looking into the possibility of the issuance of an executive order for the declaration of Talomo waters as protected area.
Diving enthusiast Carlos Munda, however, cautioned the government not to rush things up, as there is a more pressing problem in the area than making it as a tourist attraction.
Munda said Talomo seabed is now on the brink of being covered with silt from the Talomo River.
He added that this must be addressed first and foremost before making any tourism plan in the area.
According to Munda, he personally would not want to invite foreign divers in the area since Talomo waters is almost brackish and has foul odor due to water pollution and siltation.
He admitted though that Talomo area has a big tourism potential due to the presence of sunken ships but the environmental and social issues must be addressed first before anything else.
Munda predicted that in just 10 years, all of the sunken ships would be covered with silt if the community and government do not do anything about it now. (BOT)
