ECOTOURISM SITE. The watch tower of Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-Park in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, which reopened on Aug. 10, 2023 after the community received a funding assistance of almost PHP1.5 million from the Berkeley, California-based non-profit organization Seacology. “We thank Seacology for this generous fund grant as this will help the community in their continued recovery after the pandemic,” Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. said in a statement on Monday (Aug. 14). (Photo courtesy of Sagay City Information and Tourism Office)
Cesafinews | Aid of P1.5 million is given to Sagay City’s mangrove island to improve services | BACOLOD CITY – The non-profit organisation Seacology in Berkeley, California has given almost PHP1.5 million to the world-famous Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-Park in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, to help improve the park’s facilities.
Due to a lack of upkeep during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the spa and watch tower at the best eco-tourism site in northern Negros city, which is just a 10- to 15-minute boat ride from the mainland, were damaged. With the help of a grant, they were fixed up and reopened.
Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. said in a statement on Monday, “We thank Seacology for this generous fund grant, which will help the community continue to recover from the pandemic.”
Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, who helped the Suyac Eco Tourism Attendant Association (SIETAAS) fix up the cabins, told the people who live there to keep protecting the mangrove island and giving great ecotourism services.
After the cabins were fixed up, the eco-park reopened in January of this year to tourists.
On August 10, Seacology’s country representative Ferdie Marcelo went to the spa and watch tower’s reopening to do a site tour.
Marcelo said that because the community plays a big role in protecting biodiversity, grass-roots efforts should be increased to keep the ecosystem and wildlife on Suyac Island safe.
He got a copy of the resolution that the City Council passed “expressing heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Seacology for the grant.”
Ed Joy Vasquez, who is the chief of the Taba-ao village, signed the deal that says the island’s inland forest and mangrove ecosystems will be protected and fixed for good.
The mangrove eco-park is run by SIETAAS, which is led by president Melanie Mermida. This is done through a programme run by the city government that helps the environment and the community.
The group uses science-based methods to protect the mangrove ecosystem, which covers at least 15,6 hectares.
“We promise to keep protecting these riches that God has given us. Mermida said, “The mangrove forest has kept us safe from the worst storms and given us food from the sea.”
The Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-Park has been recognised as a good example of sustainable tourism growth by the Tourism Promotions Board. It has also won a Pearl Award in the “Best Practises on Community-based Responsible Tourism Category”
Its story, “Mangrove Forest Protection through Community-based Ecotourism Project,” won second place in the Nature and Scenery Category and the People’s Choice Award at the Green Destinations Story Awards in March at the Internationale Tourismus-Borse in Berlin, Germany.
It was also named one of the Top 100 “Green Destinations” for 2022 by the Green Destinations Foundation, which is based in the Netherlands.(via PNA)
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