Manila (TAN): Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the Balanga Wetland and Nature Park in the country’s Bataan province as a community-based ecotourism zone.
According to reports, a copy of the ‘Balanga Wetland and Nature Park Responsible Ecotourism Act’ signed by the President was released to media earlier this week.
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“The State is mandated to promote a tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable, responsible, participative, culturally sensitive, economically viable and equitable for the local community. Towards this end, the Balanga Wetland and Nature Park is hereby declared a special ecotourism zone,” the law reportedly read.
The park, located in Barangay Tortugas, City of Balanga, will get priority development by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for being a special ecotourism zone.
A multi-sectoral Balanga Wetland and Natural Park Development Council will reportedly be created with the Mayor of Balanga City heading it as per the requirement of the law.
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The council will design and execute the ecotourism development and management plan in coordination with stakeholders including residents and businesses. It will also be responsible for evaluating the possible effects of the development on the environmental safety and welfare of residents.
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