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Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Lake Sebu officials bullish over New Zealand grant
By Bong S. Sarmiento
KORONADAL CITY -- Officials in scenic Lake Sebu, South Cotabato are ecstatic over the $600,000 (approximately P21.6 million) grant earmarked by the New Zealand government.
Mayor Basilio Salif said the grant from New Zealand coincides with their efforts to promote the locality as a premier ecotourism hub in Central Mindanao.
"The fund would be a big help for us to achieve this end as this would also help generate jobs," he said.
Salif said the development of ecotourism sites would further spur economic activities in the area since more tourists would be coming to see the improved spots.
Salif said Lake Sebu, a town nestled 700 meters above sea level, is the favorite tourist destination in South Cotabato owing to its cool climate, cultural heritage and beautiful scenery.
During the past several years, a number of resorts have sprouted beside the town's Lake Sebu, offering premium accommodations as well as fresh tilapia abundant in the lake.
Of the seven ecotourism sites in Mindanao, only Lake Sebu town was chosen by the New Zealand as beneficiary, according to Ali Hadjinasser, interim chief of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Central Mindanao.
Hadjinasser said the financial grant would cover development projects over a period of four years, or up to 2008.
The amount would be released equally at $75,000 per year.
According to him, the New Zealand government, through the New Zealand Assistance for International Development, has earmarked a total of $2.4 million to the Philippines to help implement its ecotourism development programs nationwide.
Among the ecotourism sites that would be developed are the Traankini spring in barangay Lamhalak, the Seven Falls along Lenon River and the town's various lakes like Sebu, Lahit and Seloton, said Hadjinasser.
(October 13, 2004 issue)
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