Samar’s river cruise, caves beckon

published August 7, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Tourism (DoT) will embark on two major projects this year to further improve the river cruise and Sohoton Cave trek in Basey, Samar, a promising tourism hub in Eastern Visayas.

DoT regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes said a team from the central office was sent to Basey to identify projects that would improve the facilities within the year.

The team was composed of Allan Canizal, head of the planning office, Director Maria Victoria Jasmin, head of the tourism standard office, and an architect from the University of the Philippines.

The team has identified the need for a docking area that will make entry to the cave more convenient and a trail that will conserve the cave.

The project was proposed by Basey Mayor Wilfredo Estorninos, who earlier said that their town needs alternative sources of livelihood. The town has been dependent on logging operations for over 30 years.

Presently, visitors have to walk along the shoreline to ride a boat in Barangay Inuntan (located about 18 kilometers away from Basey town proper), the main takeoff point for the boats that bring visitors to the world-famous cave through the Golden River.

The boat can carry up to 30 tourists and a crew, including a singer and guitarist. It is more spacious than the vessels used for the famous river cruise in Bohol.

There is a tour package featuring add-ons such as river-cruise meals, trained and uniformed guides, a catering service and overnight lodgings.

The DoT, according to Ms. Tiopes, extended a P230,000 grant for the skills training and supplies, while the municipal government allotted a counterpart fund of P100,000 to construct the boat.

It is the only operating boat designed for river cruising although there are also kayaks that carry visitors to the mouth of the cave.

The project, which was launched in May is operated by the Basey Tourism Services Association (BATOSAN) which has received technical and financial assistance from the Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Ecotourism (GREET) program.

"Aside from providing convenience to visitors in getting off the boat, the docking area will also serve as shoreline protection. It should be a structure that should not destroy the natural beauty of the place," Ms. Tiopes told BusinessWorld.


The Tourism department will also set up a trail inside the cave to conserve the cave and prevent visitors from touching the stalagmites, stalactites, cave walls and formations.

"It is the path that every visitor should follow. This is to minimize disturbance of formations since these are carefully preserved. People can’t stop from touching the formations even if it’s not allowed," Ms. Tiopes said.

Part of the project includes the lighting up of some areas to allow guests to appreciate rock formations from afar.

Experts said oil smears from the human skin are like graffiti that could ruin the natural "growth" of the rocks and cause them to turn brown or black.

Cave exploration in Sohoton is easier since it requires no risky climb or descent, just a continuous walk on mostly level ground.

Basey’s Sohoton caves are part of an 840-hectare forest area that was declared a national park in 1935.

The caves have been drawing tourists, hobbyists, researchers and even treasure hunters. Aside from the caves, the park also boasts of natural wonders like waterfalls and underground streams.

"Back then, visitors hired local boatmen and guides, brought their own food, and tried to make it back to the city before dark," Ms. Tiopes said.

Since May this year, all services needed by tourists have been provided by the 20-member Sohoton Services Association (SSA), which handles the Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Eco-Adventure project. The launch was led by Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano.

"We want ecotourism to become a way of life for the people here in Basey. Right now it is additional income for them, but our vision is that this will become their main livelihood," Mr. Durano said at the launch.

Apart from donating equipment like kayaks, coveralls, helmets and other safety gear, the DoT last year started training some 60 villagers in Basey on the basics of "visitor management," eco-tour planning and marketing, food preparation and first aid, among
others.

With the skills training, guides and housewives are on their way to becoming quality service providers. Both the SSA and the Batosan will also provide catering services and operate souvenir shops in the area.

Last month, the Tourism office brough eight cave guides from Sohoton and Rawis Caves to Palawan to enhance their guiding skills through an actual tour of the caves with professional cave guides.

"We want to train them through observation in such a way that guests will enjoy the tour from the cave guides’ conversational skills and sense of humor," Ms. Tiopes said. - Sarwell Q. Meniano

P500-million multi-fuel plant to rise in Leyte

published July 31, 2009 in BusinessWorld and Leyte Samar Daily Express

PALO, LEYTE — Biogas technology developer Philippine Bio Sciences Co., Inc. (PhilBIO) is investing P500 million over the next 18 months to build the first multi-fuel power plant in Leyte.

The facility, which will produce five megawatts (MW), aims to supply the power requirement of Leyte-based Uytingkoc Development Corp., which runs an ice plant, rice mill, restaurant, hotel, shopping center, and a convention center.

Uytingkoc is investing P50 million through hosting the facility, supplying feed stocks, and putting up power lines to their establishments.
Excess power will be sold to the community, PhilBIO chief operating officer Alberto Pascua said in an interview.

Mr. Pascua said they will use rice husks, coconut shells and coconut husks to fuel the plant.

To fuel a 5-MW plant, close to 400 tons of waste from coconut and rice harvests are needed each day, he added.

"This is a big investment, but this will benefit many people since this will reduce emission of green-house gases and provide cheaper source of power," Mr. Pascua told reporters during groundbreaking ceremonies for the new plant on Wednesday afternoon.

The facility will be built within the premises of Asia Ice Plant and Asia Rice Mill in this town. Both are owned by Uytingkoc.

"We were convinced of the benefits when they introduced the environment-friendly project to us. This ushers the entry of renewable energy in Leyte. We are willing to share the excess non-hazardous power to the community," said Uytingkoc President Go Tic Ching.

All the businesses managed by the Uytingkoc in this town and in Tacloban City consume a total of 2.3 MW, which is sourced from the Leyte Geothermal Power Plant.

Aside from the ice plant and rice mill, Uytingkoc owns and operates Astramart, Leyte Asia Trading, Asia Convention Center, Cindy’s Restaurant, Asia Stars Hotel, and a real estate business.

The Leyte project of PhilBIO is the first plant that will tap various wastes from rice and coconut farms to produce renewable energy.

"Initially, we will operate at 2.5 MW for the first few months and will go for 5 MW in its full operation. We will conduct feed analysis to make sure that our expansion will be sustainable," Mr. Pascua said.

Leticia Garcia, head of PhilBIO’s new business development group, said the project costs P100 million per MW.

It will be constructed under a build-operate-transfer agreement with Uytingkoc, which will own the plant after 15 years.

Ms. Garcia added that they were studying applicable technologies from Japan, China, Europe and America for the plant’s operations.

"For this project, we are considering the high-end technologies since this is the first renewable energy project in Leyte. We are testing the quality of water and soil to find out the kind of technology that we will be using," she added. -Sarwell Q. Meniano

Probe set on mayor’s murder

published July 20, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — The police regional office here has created a task force that will look into the shooting incident last week that killed Matuguinao, Samar Mayor Carlos de la Cruz.

Police reports said the 53-year-old official was shot around 7:20 p.m. Thursday by three motorcycle-riding men at his residence along Azucena St., Barangay San Pablo, Catbalogan, Samar. The victim was hit on his right chest.

Mr. de la Cruz died while undergoing treatment at the Samar Provincial Hospital. His cousin, Joel Adel, who was with him during the shooting was injured. He was brought to a private hospital. No witness has come forward.

On April 25, 1998, the victim’s elder brother, Celso, who was serving his second term as mayor was also gunned down in an ambush during the election campaign in an upland village of Matuguinao. The case remains unsolved. Their father, who was preparing to run for mayor in 1989, was also murdered.

Matuguinao, with 6,000 residents, is a fifth-class municipality. — Sarwell Q. Meniano

Outbreak in Eastern Visayas?

published July 15, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — Confirmed influenza A(H1N1) cases in Eastern Visayas have risen to 103 as of Tuesday with majority of the patients reported in schools, the Department of Health (DoH) said.

DoH regional epidemiologist Nicholas Bautista raised the possibility of a community outbreak with at least 242 persons placed under observation. Students accounted for 80% of suspected cases.

"There’s a cause for alarm since this flu hit 50% to 60% of children in one classroom. We fear that it will go to the community and be transmitted to high risk group," Mr. Bautista said.

In this city and in nearby Palo town, confirmed cases were reported in Cirilo Roy Montejo National High School, Rizal Elementary School, Leyte Normal University, STEFTI, Sacred Heart Seminary, Sto. Niño SPED Center, Bethel International School, Kapangian Elementary School, St. Therese Child Development Center, Sacred Heart Seminary and Saint Scholastica’s School.

The region’s biggest secondary school, Leyte National High School, with a student population of over 6,000 has confirmed cases.

"Classes were suspended in some sections to prevent the spread of the virus," Mr. Bautista said.

Only the schools from Leyte and Eastern Samar have so far been giving reports of suspected cases. "The community is still silent. There might be positive cases but it’s not reported to us," he added.

Mr. Bautista said the DoH will hold a summit today to raise awareness on the virus among city school, local government and Commission on Higher Education officials.

A World Health Organization report has projected that the virus could infect up to 1.17 million people in the region, representing a third of the population.

Private hospitals have been tapped to treat patients. The congested Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, which is the only referral hospital in the region, has only three beds for confirmed cases and seven beds for cases under observation.-Sarwell Q. Meniano

Southern Leyte province bridge packaged as tourist gateway

published July 09, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — The Agas-Agas bridge, a 1.5-kilometer structure, will be opened to traffic next month.

The bridge, which cost P995 million, bypasses the landslide-prone road section in Sogod, Southern Leyte province. It is also seen as a tourist destination, with a planned rest area and viewing deck for travelers between Luzon and Mindanao.

Public Works Undersecretary Rafael Yabut said a restroom, recreational area and parking space will also be provided.

"This is a very beautiful bridge that will serves as link of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The foundation is strong and the design will withstand landslides," Mr. Yabut said as he inspected the bridge along with Undersecretary Jaime Pacanan and Regional Director Angelito Twaño.

Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado said the structure could also serve as take-off point for bungee jumping.

Mr. Yabut said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurate the structure on Aug. 25.
The project, implemented by the Philippine-Japan Highway Loan-Project Monitoring Office, started in 1996. – Sarwell Q. Meniano