Oi Oi Oi

There's an interesting article about Caramoan Peninsula at Philippine Daily Inquirer today:


Bicol Governor Villafuerte stated that "Caramoan could be the next Boracay, with a difference: Development projects would be carefully planned so it would not become like the now world-famous resort—“overloaded” and plagued with sewage problems.

Tourism Secretary Durano echoes: “Since nature is the main asset and attraction here, it must be preserved. Everyone must be careful not to overdevelop the place.”

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I agree, whenever a place or a tourist destination here in the Philippines becomes popular not only among local tourists but to foreign tourists as well, the Government should closely consider the proper ways of developing it.

Infrastructure development sometimes brings damages to surrounding natural environment. Thus the need for proper guidance and monitoring of structures being built all over the place.

Let Boracay be a lesson in itself, I've never been to Boracay but most people who's been there are telling me that it mostly appeals now to tourists because of its party atmosphere but the overwhelming structures have left the island in grave danger of pollution and being overrun with garbage (lack of proper sewerage system for one).

Tourism brings a tremendous boost to the local economy particularly with the likes of Caramoan. I've been there last month, it's a sleepy fishing town and tourism can really help the local inhabitants of the place, with the help of the Government and the exposure that it will get from the international media, it has a great chance of becoming the next popular tourist destination in the Philippines if not the even the whole of South East Asia.

Thailand's tourism figures is about 14 million a year (contributes about 5% of the Thai economy's GDP), while the Philippines is at about 3 million (in 2007, with most of them Koreans). With proper development and the right plan we can easily be at par or even edge out Thailand.

Westerners are in dire need of a vacation in a tropical destination, third world atmosphere appeals to them like we are to the winter snow of European nations. We can take advantage of this by building resorts and accomodations to a minimum and that caters to a particular theme, more nature friendly structures not just "bara-bara, kahit saan na lang na pag-gawa ng infrastructures".

But of course in a country where one can easily obtain a permit to build and construct, this remains to be a hard task. Developers, the local Government and the National Government should all work with one plan of development to ensure that nature won't be destroyed in exchange for the boost in tourism.