News Release

AGAP Bulusan presents to PAMB 2011 Tourism Plans for BVNP

By: Irma A. Guhit

Sorsogon City, February 7 –The detailed activities of the Tourism Plan that the Aggrupation of Advocates for Environment Protection (AGAP) Bulusan, Inc. will be implementing inside the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP) this 2011 was formally presented by Philip Bartillet, its president, during the monthly meeting of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) here.

The AGAP-Bulusan has been officially designated to manage the tourism activity inside the BVNP through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between and amongst the provincial government represented by the former Sorsogon governor Sally Ante-Lee, Department of Tourism (DOT) V regional director Maria O. Ravanilla and former Bulusan municipal mayor Juan Gusayko during the Earth Day celebration last year at the board walk area inside the BVNP.

During the said signing 20 units of Kayak were turned over to the association to initialize tourism activities within the lake.

It was also spelled out in the agreement that proceeds from the activity will be given to the association as a source of resource mobilization fund for the daily maintenance, cleanliness and expenses undertaken for daily operations.

“Our 8-month supervision and management of the tourism activity in the BVNP has propelled us to present the plan of putting up additional features of tourism activity which is the construction of 15 units of canoes that will cater to group of 10 persons who would like to have a boat ride around the lake. Each canoe will measure up to 15 feet made of fiber glass with a square stern for electric outboard attachment. The 15-footer canoe will amount to Php35,000.00,”explained AGAP president Philip Bartilet.

The provincial government through Gov. Raul R. Lee has already earmarked the amount to be spent for these canoes,” he further said.

“The influx of tourists coming in daily is quite interesting and boating inside the lake turns out to be just one big activity that will provide us more income. Tourists enjoy the leisure ride inside the lake as one of the favorites based on the remarks registered in our records,” Bartilet expressed.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Oscar Dominguez has proposed in the next meeting to lay the rules and guidelines governing resource-generation sharing from the tourism activity in the BVNP. (PIA Sorsogon)