Amid the ongoing closure of resort island Boracay, the Department of Tourism-Region VI (DOT-6) is placing a focus on sustainable tourism.

“DOT believes, in order to make tourism more sustainable, we have to protect the environment,” explained DOT-6 director, Atty. Helen J. Catalbas. “We are really working hard, so it will not come to the point that we should close the tourist destination, just like what happened to Boracay.”

The agency recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure ecotourism sites, along with threatened species native to those areas, are well-protected.

DOT-6 also regularly conducts trainings to bring about more awareness to sustainable tourism, including eco-guide trainings.

Earlier this month, during a meeting between DOT Undersecretary Arturo P. Boncato and the Boracay Stakeholders Core Group, the DOT official stressed the necessity for Boracay establishments to be compliant ahead of reopening.

The group affirmed “compliant” establishments refers to those in line with regulations set by the DOT, Department of the Interior and Local Government, DENR, and the Malay municipal government, which has jurisdiction over the shuttered resort island./WDJ

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