Intl community praises priest's pro-poor ecotourism plan

An Indonesian Catholic priest's community-based ecotourism plan for Lubang Island in Mindoro has earned the nod of stakeholders from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The Lubang Island eco-tourism plan, the brainchild of Lubang parish priest Divine Word Father Paulus Latuan, won the praise of 150 stakeholders during a recent Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape (SSS) Congress. “It promises a better life for Lubang people," Latuan was quoted as saying in a report of the Union of Catholic Asian News. Latuan's program will cover a 100 million-hectare SSS area which includes the marine-rich waters shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Under the program, the locals will form cooperatives for livelihood projects featuring the province's products— cashew, carabao milk candy, peanuts, garlic, among others. The residents would also be trained as tour guides and some would also open their homes for tourist homestay lodging. “Tourism revenues already help support popular areas of the Seascape, such as the world-class diving sites in Verde Island Passage (VIP) and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan," said Lubang Mayor Juan Sanchez. Sanchez said the “nature-based" tourism project will provide alternative livelihood for fisherfolk. “Lubang is very fortunate to be along the VIP. Villagers are already acting on their vision for ‘a destination that will last for many generations.’ This is what is meant by citizenship," said tourism consultant Chen Mencias. Mencias said four plans will formally be presented to the local government next month: the tourism master plan, site development plan, product manual, and the marketing plan with climate change adaptation guidelines. –VVP, GMANews.TV