Virgin island reopens, trash,
carrying capacity issues set

PUNTOD ISLAND, PANGLAO, Bohol (PIA)—Panglao Island Protected Seascapes (PIPS) reopens to a maximum of 250 persons at any given two hours from 6 AM to 6 PM, all guests to undergo a pre-entry boat inspection for trash audit, as the authorities here start to implement a strict pack-in, pack-out policy to maintain a garbage-free environment consistent with the government protection as promised.

Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, who upon recommendation from authorities issued the order to temporarily close all water activities of the PIPs following vandalism, environmental abuse and unscrupulous business operations by illegal food vendors and tour operators, appealed to Boholanos to join the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) in taking care of the tourism jewel which has become a tourism magnet for Bohol.

While the ‘livelihood’ and tourism operations in the Virgin Island sandbar gave economic benefits, Aumentado emphasizes “balancing livelihood and the sustainable environment which can only be done through policies and regulations,” would be the logical move.

Himself getting bashed for ordering the shut-down of operations of the PIPS in Virgin Island in 2024, the governor admitted that the action was tough as the activities also “gave economic benefits,” but then, “we have to balance livelihood as a component for life and sacrificing the environment.”

Aside from the absence of a study on the PIPS carrying capacity which should have been the basis for regulating entry of people to minimize impact of humans to the environment then, the presence of vendors, and the unregulated time of stay severely impacted the environment, posed trash issues, advanced coral reef degradation and opened access to fragile marine life resulting in underwater wildlife displacements.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Officer in Charge Regional Executive Director (RED) Laudemer Salac, who visited Virgin Island in 2018 in cognito, has noted the unsustainable practices then and vowed to act on it if he becomes assigned in the region.

Now, as DENR RED, Salac gets handed in a silver platter, the newly crafted PIPS Marine Tourism Guidelines, for him as PIPS PAMB Chairman to refer in the enforcement and implementation of the government intent of protecting and conserving the seascapes that span 24.5 square kilometres of marine and coastal areas.

In here, the DENR claimed is where some of the oldest mangroves stands can be found, productive seagrass beds, diverse coral reefs and tide flats that are frequented by at least 7 migratory birds.

These also include the tourist favourite offshore Balicasag Island with its world famous dive sites, Gak-ang Island and Puntod island and its pristine Virgin island sandbar plus pockets of mangrove areas in Dauis, all managed to protect biodiversity.

During a brief opening ceremony following the ribbon cutting marking the re-opening of water activities here, RED Salac who has read the guidelines cited visitor management, carrying capacity and waste management as the critical changes.

“Economic development can go hand in hand with environmental protection,” he said noting the PIPS Marine Tourism Guidelines which the PAMB would strictly implement, has that covered.

We want this to be sustainable, he added, contrasting it the past destructive practices.

On this, both local officials emphasized the role of communities in conserving the near-perfect sandbar, attractive underwater sceneries, productive tide flats and sea grass beds as well as the fringing mangroves that are home to a wide range of marine life.

We have to watch over this 24/7, Aumentado stressed, even as PENRO Jose Cary Cleo Colis similarly urged Boholanos to unite in helping keep Virgin island and its seascapes in its pristine shape as a sustainable economic resource. (PIABohol)

SQUALLS CANT STOP. Despite a squall that broke during the opening ceremonies, it did not stop the boatloads of tourists from visiting the Virgin Island sandbar, one of the most beautiful swimming, snorkelling and diving areas closest to Panglao beaches. Closed over a year ago to allow rehabilitation, the area is now opened with strict marine tourism guidelines aligned with the government protection as among the country’s National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS).