El Nido Collects Fees to Fund Environmental Protection

In response to the growing needs of environmental protection, resource rehabilitation and tourism development in El Nido, the Local Government Unit [LGU], under the leadership of Mayor Leonor D. Corral, implemented the Eco-Tourism Development Fee [ETDF] ordinance on November 27, 2009. In this fee system, each tourist pays an amount of Php 200. Palawan residents outside El Nido pay a discounted amount of Php 100 [Php 50 for Palaweno students]. Tickets issued upon payment will serve as access to all tourism sites within El Nido for a period of 10 days.

This Eco-Tourism Development Fee ordinance, authored by Councilors Nieves Rosento and Rico Fernandez, was passed by the Municipal Council and was approved by the mayor in 2008. The ordinance stated that 50% of the fund will go to environmental protection, resource rehabilitation, solid waste management and tourism development. 10% of it will go the Protected Area Office [PAO] while another 10% will go to the different barangays’ coastal resource management and watershed projects. 20% of it will be used to defray administrative costs such as printing of tickets, salary of ticket inspectors and information materials. The remaining 10% will go LGU’s general fund.

After 12 days of implementation, the Municipal Treasury reported that it has already collected a total of Php 104,400 as of December 2, 2009, 2:15PM. Php 67,800 [65%] were collectected by the Municipal Tourism Office, Php 18,000 [17%] by Artcafe, Php 6,800 [6%] by Green View Resort, Php 6,000 [6%] by El Nido Beach Hotel, Php 2,800 [3%] by Islandfront Cottages, Php 2,400 [2%] byFour Seasons Resort and Php 600 [1%] by Alternative Inn. The LGU hopes that more resorts and booking offices would participate in the collection in 2010.

During the Tourism Stakeholders’ Workshop on December 3-4, 2009 at El Nido Foundation’s [ENF] Community Learning Center, resort owners, divers, boatmen and tour guides identified projects to be funded by ETDF in 2010. Regulation of tourism activities was prioritized in the planning process. This regulation includes installation of marker bouys, training of tour guides about ecology and observance of carrying capacity in every tourism sites. Construction of tourism facilities such as comfort rooms and information centers were also discussed. ETDF Task Force, the group tasked to implement the said fee system, presented to the participants a process flow that would ensure transparency in the management of funds. The process includes quarterly report about the status of fund and projects.

ETDF Task Force expects El Nido Environmental Law Enforcement Council [ENELEC], PAO and the barangays to submit project proposals before the year ends. [Arvin L. Acosta, LGU]

Mga Species y ang Isda sa El Nido

Datu gali sa El Nido mi 888 species y isda. D’ya ang resulta y ang research nga ing buat ni Dr. Gerald R. Allen, isarang Fish Scientist nga kilala sa bilog nga kalibutan, asta ni Dr. Mark V. Erdmann, isarang Coral Reef Ecologist. Ag eseb sanda sa mga dive sites agalin Bacuit Bay tegka isla y ang Imorigue sa Dewil. Ing buat ang research umpisa June 2007 tegka June 2009.

Pinakamarakeng species ang akita sa Cagbantang Cove sa Matinloc Island nga mi 211 species; agdasun ang Pangulasian Island nga mi 208; pangatlo ang Tres Marias Marine Sanctuary nga mi 197. Midyan dang adiskubre nga 11 bagong species y ang isda sanda Dr. Allen.

Sa pagkadiskubre nga dia, ang El Nido ron ang pangarwa sa pinaka-manggaden sa kalibutan pag-abot sa species y ang isda. Nauna ang Maumere Bay sa Flores Island, Indonesia nga mi 1,111 species. Agadason kanaten ig sa pangatlo ang Togean asta Banggai Islands, sa Indonesia ra, nga mi 819 species. Pang-apat den lamang ang Komodo Island nga mi 722.

Animan dadi pursigido ang munisipyo asta ang El Nido Foundation sa pag-betang y ang mga marine sanctuary sa mga barangay agud ma-protektan ang ateng mga isda. Sigue ra sa pandakep y ang mga manig-bungbung ig manig-sodium ang mga tauhan y ang Municipal Environmental Desk Office [MEDO].  Basi pang magtabang kamo ra agud midyan kita pang makawil sa madasun nga mga dagun [Arvin L. Acosta, LGU].

3rd Cadlao Challenge

El Nido Tour Guides Association Inc.,[ENTGAI] in partnership with the Local Goverment Unit [LGU], Municipal Tourism Office,  El Nido Resorts, Malampaya Foundation, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary [PCGA], Philippine Red Cross, Joint Task Force Malapaya [JTFM] and Supply Oilfields Services [SOS], organized a 2.5 km swimming competition, from Cadlao Is. to the Mainland. The organizers are giving away cash, trophies and medals with 2 nights stay at Marina de Bay, Puerto Princesa City.

The event is open for the following categories: Professional [Men], Open Category [Men and Women]. Participants are required to fill up application forms, submit medical certificates and pay registration fee of P200 for Professionals and P100 for Open Category [Men and Women]. A beach volleyball and a 300m swimming competition for kids [9 to 12 years old] will complete the sports event set on September 26, 2009.

El Nido’s 3rd Cadlao Challenge bears the theme: “Health, sports and tourism” and supports the cause “Stop the Use of Plastic Bags!”

For inquiries e-mail the organizers at elnidotourism@yahoo.com. [Arvin Acosta, LGU, Photo by Artcafe]

Crown of Thorns Outbreak

Photo by ENF

There is a Crown of Thorns [COT] outbreak in El Nido at present. This was first noticed by coral scientists Emre Turak and Lyndon Devantier during their reef’s Carrying Capacity Study last July 2009. They immediately informed El Nido Foundation [ENF] about the said outbreak.

Upon knowing this, Mayor Leonor D. Corral called for an emergency meeting on July 8, 2009. She formed a group called the “COT Terminators” to immediately address the problem. This team, which she personally led, is composed of divers and snorkelers from El Nido Divers Association [ENDA], Joint Task Force Malampaya [JTFM], Local Government Unit [LGU], ENF, El Nido Resorts [ENR], Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary [PCGA], World Wildlife Fund [WWF], Protected Area Office [PAO] and the community. The LGU allocated a certain amount from the calamity fund for the COT Terminators’ mission. ENF provided boats, dive equipments and thongs.

The Terminators started search and destroy operations at Lalutaya Is. where they collected a total of 3,908 COTs. Mitri Is. operations followed with 5,114 COTs killed. More operations followed at Commando Beach, Matinloc Is. and Tres Marias Is.

On August 26, 2009, Global Environment Facility [GEF]-funded COT guns were tested at Kulasa Beach. ENF facilitated the purchase of those guns that sped up the process of terminating COTs. That day the total number of COTs destroyed leaped to 15,937.

The team now is eyeing Tapuitan Is., Cagbantang Cove and the eastern coast’s reefs with a hope of ending this environmental threat before it was all too late. [Arvin Acosta, LGU].

The Dredging Issue

Philippine Ports Authority initiated a project that will dredge El Nido’s shallow waters to accommodate Roll On/Roll Off [RORO] Ships. Although they have already secured the Municipal Council’s nod and the Protected Area Management Board’s [PAMB] blessings, they still haven’t presented measures to minimize its impact on the town’s fragile environment, yet. Moreover, they still have to accomplish a long list of requirements set by Palawan Council for Sustainable Development [PCSD].

Surprisingly, the Department of Natural Resources [DENR] issued Environmental Compliance Certificate [ECC] to the PPA. Though the ECC can’t proceed without satisfying the requirements set by DENR, Mayor Leonor D. Corral, immediately issued a hold order to the contractors. This puts the PPA Dredging Project in status quo. However, the project remains a major environmental threat.

In response to the issue, concerned residents of El Nido staged a rally last August 19, 2009. They voiced dissapointment on PPA’s irresponsible implementation of the project. They expressed their protest through a motorcade, a boat parade and a march that all met at the Port of El Nido.

Streamers with “No To Dredging” slogan can still be seen all around the town. The protesters are still waiting for the DENR to recant the ECC it issued earlier and the PPA to formally withdraw the project. [Arvin Acosta, LGU, Photo by Artcafe]

Mga Puno ng Wagas na Pag-Ibig

Photo by TJ Gallardo

ni Roman O. De Jesus, LGU

Isa sa mga pinagtutuunan ng pansin ng ating pamahalaan sa kasalukuyan ay ang pangangalaga sa ating Inang Kalikasan, at isa naman sa pinagkakaabalahang gawain ay ang pagtatanim ng mga punong-kahoy, namumunga man o hindi. Marami na ring mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang nagpakita ng maalab na pagsuporta sa kampanyang ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim ng mga puno sa ilang mga piling lugar taon-taon.

Namumukod-tangi naman ang pamamaraang ipinamalas ni Kgg. Leonor Dangan-Corral, ang butihing Punong Bayan ng El Nido, bilang pagtangkilik at pagtaguyod sa kampanyang nabanggit. Ito ay ang pagtatanim ng puno ng bawat magsing-irog na kanyang pinagtataling puso bilang sagisag ng kanilang wagas na pag-ibig sa isa’t isa. Naglalayon din itong maitanim sa puso’t isipan ng magkasuyo ang kanilang pananagutan sa pangangalaga at pagmamalasakit sa ating Inang Kalikasan. Ang proyektong ito ay kanyang pinasimulan nang siya ay maluklok bilang Punong Bayan ng El Nido.

Sa kasalukuyan ay mahigit nang 110 na puno na ang naitanim ng mga mag-asawang ikinasal ni Mayor Corral. Ang mga ito ay matatagpuan sa tabi ng pambansang lansangan mula Balinsasayaw Road at bumabagtas sa tabing kalsada ng Bgy. Maligaya patungong Bgy. Corong-Corong. Inaasahang ang mga ito’y patuloy pang mararagdagan ng marami pang mga puno.

Ang puno ay sagisag ng isang matibay na pagmamahalan, lumalago at yumayabong. At hindi basta-basta matitinag ng anumang unos at pagsubok ng buhay sa mahabang panahon.

Isang paalaala kaibigan: ingat ka sa pagputol ng mga puno. Baka ang iyong maputol ay ang punong sagisag ng iyong wagas at tapat na pagsuyo…

Ang Punong si Narra at ang Batang si Ella

ni Eunice Andrea B. Pena, El Nido Central Elementary School

May isang bata na ang pangalan ay Ella. Pumupunta siya sa gubat kapag nalulungkot siya dahil nawawala ang kanyang problema. Takbo nang takbo ang bata hanggang may nabangga siyang puno, si Narra. Naging magkaibigan si Narra at si Ella.

Isang araw, nagulat na lang si Ella dahil putol na ang kaibigang puno at ang iba pa. Kinabukasan, umulan ng malakas. Gumuho ang lupa at bumaha.

Nagsisi ang mga tao na pinutol nila ang puno. Naisip ni Ella na dapat magtanim sila ng puno. Nagtulong-tulong silang magtanim ng puno. At naging masaya na ulit si Ella. 

Ang Bata at ang Isda

ni Eunice Adrea B. Pena, El Nido Central Elementary School

May isang bata, ang pangalan ay Peter. Mayroon siyang kaibingang Isda, si Moonfish. At isang araw, may nakita siyang dalawang mangingisda na may gamit na dinamita sa paghuli ng isda.

Isang araw, nakita na lang ni Peter si Moonfish na lumulutang. Nabiktima siya ng dinamita. Naiyak si Peter dahil nawalan siya ng kaibingang isda. Kaya isinumbong niya ang mangingisda sa Barangay Tanod.

Nahuli na ng mga Barangay Tanod ang mga gumamit ng dinamita. At naging masaya na si Peter dahil nahuli na ang bumiktima kay Moonfish.

The Yawning Jar

In 1965, Dr. Robert B. Fox dicovered a unique artifact in Leta-Leta Cave at Lagen Island, El Nido, Philippines. This artifact is an earthen jar that resembles a yawning man. This is the reason why archaeologists called it “The Yawning Jar.” The said treasure in now under the care of the Philippine National Museum.

Estimated to have existed in 265 BC, the ancient piece deserves the same respect and prestige enjoyed by the Manunggul Jar, who now sits as icon of Philippine archaeology. Unfortunately, the said artifact remained hidden inside the four corners of the museum for four decades.

However, recent discoveries at Ille Cave prompted El Nido Municipal Tourism Office to push the Yawning Jar to the forefront of the municipality’s tourism industry. Being the symbol of El Nido’s rich archaeological finds, the yawning art piece hopes to lure visitors to Leta-Leta Cave, Ille Rockshelter and Sibaltan Open Site.

The meaning behind that yawn is still a puzzle for the experts. There is a hypothesis that it was accidentally deformed and the potter decided to mold it into a yawning face. Still the yawn remained a mystery. Perhaps, it asks for a bountiful harvest. And, I hope it’s not a symbol of a sleepy ancient tribe. [Arvin L. Acosta, LGU]

Dewil Valley

Sa Dewil Valley, New Ibajay, El Nido, Palawan matatagpuan ang kuweba ng Ille, Istar at Makangit. Sa mga nabanggit, ang kweba ng Ille ang pinakamahalagang archaeological site El nido. Dito makikita ang:

1. Mga labi ng tao na nagkaka-idad ng 12,000 taon.
2. Mga bakas ng cremation 7,000-9,000 taon na ang nakalipas. Ito’y tinatayang pinakamatanda sa Timog-Silangang Asya.
3. Mga labi ng tigre na kauna-unahang natagpuan sa Pilipinas. Nagpapatunay ito na may lupang nag-ugnay sa Palawan at Borneo daan libong taon na nakalipas.

Ang paghuhukay arkeyolohikal sa Dewil Valley ay nagsimula noong 1998 sa pagsusumikap ni Dr. Wilhelm Solheim. Ito ay ginagawa taon-taon hanngang ngayon tuwing buwan ng Abril at Mayo. Pinangungunahan ni Dr. Victor Paz ng University of the Philippines-Archaeological Studies Program [UP-ASP] ang nasabing paghuhukay. Kasama rin nila si Dr. Helen Lewis ng University of Dublin at iba pang mga arkeyologo mula sa iba’t ibang unibersidad sa labas ng bansa.

Karagdagang atraksyon ang Dewil Valley sa El Nido. Isa ito sa mga pinupuntahan ng mga turista maliban sa magagandang isla, dalampasigan, taraw, talon, hotspring at gubat. [Arvin L. Acosta, LGU, Photo Credits: UP-ASP]