Mini-hydropower plant to rise at Calbayog’s Bugtong Falls

published September 02, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — Clean N Green Energy Solutions, Inc. will invest around P200 million within the next 12 months to build the 1.7-megawatt (MW) Bugtong mini-hydropower plant in Calbayog.

Jose O. Ilagan, president of Clean N Green, said the hydropower project is still at the "predevelopment stage."

"We are now securing various government clearances for the project. Construction [will start in] June 2010."

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said the project would be undertaken through the build-operate-transfer scheme. A feasibility study was earlier conducted by the city government and a company called Pilipinas Engine and Turbine Co.

The project site is in Brgy. San Joaquin, which hosts Bugtong Falls, one of the tourist spots in the province.

"They (Clean N Green) validated our feasibility study. Instead of producing 3.8 MW, we have opted to tap only 1.7 MW in order not to deface the beauty of the waterfalls. This model is very acceptable to environmentalists," Mr. Sarmiento said in a brief interview.

The city government is also looking at two other potential hydropower sources, Mr. Sarmiento said. These are the Pan-as Falls and Tarangban Falls. Many investors have expressed interest in developing the two sites into hydropower sources, he added.

"Calbayog City consumes around 8 MW. The advantage is that we’re very near the national grid and we can send the excess power to other areas if there is," Mr. Sarmiento said.

Meanwhile, the Samar I Electric Cooperative will soon start the upgrade of the existing 1.08-MW Ton-ok Mini Hydroelectric Power Plant in Brgy. Barral, at the Oquendo district of Calbayog.

Mr. Sarmiento, who chairs the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council, called on other Samar island officials to "capitalize" on hydropower considering the abundant water resources on the island.

"There are many in the power sector that are putting up investments. The [regional development council] can endorse the proposed projects to the company that could help [build] these projects," he added.

Mussel catch in Samar recovering after cleanup

published September 01, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — A group of fishermen here has noted a slight recovery in the production of mussel, locally known as tahong, in Maqueda Bay in Samar.

Gerardo Malinao, chairman of Gugma han Maqueda Bay Igin-un-dong han Organisasyon Samarnon, said production has improved by 35%, so far, this year after a comprehensive cleanup conducted at the bay in the wake of a massive mussel kill last year.

"Since people started raising tahong in 1953, no cleanup has been done until last year. After May 2008, the livelihood of fisherfolk has been affected, considering the 96% loss in production," Mr. Malinao said in an interview.

The traditional use of bamboo poles to attract mussel spats led to increased siltation and prevented adequate water circulation within the area.

A study by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said this caused the mussel kill.

"Poor water circulation also increases deposition of nitrogenous wastes in coastal beds, further aggravating the hypoxic condition. Farmed mussels continuously exposed to hypoxic conditions become stressed, brought about by critically low levels of oxygen, thus affecting their survival and making them susceptible to secondary microbial infections, which may result in mass mortalities," the study said.

Hence, BFAR introduced the raft hanging method to mussel farmers. This was expected to raise production and reduce marine pollution. Under the new method, the bamboo raft serves as breeding place of mussels.

Mr. Malinao said that they were encouraged to apply the technology in the production process after the price of mussels went up to P800 per sack from only P140 last year.

"This is due to increasing demand for tahong in Davao, Cebu, and Bohol. Our goal is to directly sell the products to the market outside Region 8 in order to gain bigger profits," he added.

The group has 4,970 members in Catbalogan, Jiabong, Villareal, Motiong, Tarangnan and Talalora all towns bordering Maqueda Bay.

It can be recalled that between May to June 2008, massive mussel mortality was noted in Jiabong. A month after, 90% of the mussel farms had stopped operation. In November 2008, another mussel kill occurred in the two-hectare techno demo farm established by the government despite the fresh introduction of the raft hanging method. The mussel kill caused P38-million losses for the industry, according to BFAR. The significant decline in harvest affected at least 137 registered farmers in the top mussel producing municipality.

In 2006, the mussel industry in the area reported 10,616 metric tons of catch worth P43.24 million.

Southern Leyte luring more investments for its dive sites

published September 01, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — The provincial government of Southern Leyte hopes to lure more tourism investments to service dive sites in Sogod Bay.

"We are inviting more players in the diving industry and we are opening the Pacific area of the province for this activity," said Nedgar Garvez, Southern Leyte tourism provincial officer.

Sogod Bay has four existing dive shops, namely: Peter’s Dive Resort, Sogod Bay Scuba Resort, Southern Leyte Dive Resort, and Coral Cay Conservation Center.

These are located in Padre Burgos, San Francisco, and Macrohon towns.

"Each of the existing dive shops has 200 visitors every month, mostly Europeans. Some existing dive shops are acquiring more properties this year as part of their expansion," Mr. Garvez said.

The dive sites are situated within the 718-square-kilometer Sogod Bay, which is bounded by the towns of Padre Burgos, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus, Bontoc, Sogod, Pintuyan, San Francisco, Liloan, Limasawa, Libagon, and Macrohon.

Mr. Garvez said Sogod Bay can accommodate six more resorts.

Sogod has 25 popular dive sites, such as the Padre Burgos jetty, Tangkaan Point, Limasawa Island, Malitbog, Liloan, and Panaon Island. Limasawa Island is particularly famous for "incredible diving," with its dark eerie steep walls with gorgonian fans and massive table corals.

Tallest bridge now open in South Leyte

published August 11, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — Southern Leyte’s Agas-Agas Bridge formally opened to public transport on Sunday making it the country’s tallest and adding to the list of tourism destinations in the region.

Accompanied by top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the inauguration of the P1.024-billion bridge.
Approximately 1,000 feet high, the facility will make the road section passable anytime to vehicles transporting goods from Luzon to Mindanao and vice versa.

"You will no longer use the old road because you now have a strong and beautiful bridge," the President said while conversing with officials.

DPWH regional director Angelito Twano said that the infrastructure was built to prevent stranding of vehicles during rainy days.

The 1.50-km bridge is seen as a permanent solution to the natural movement of loose soil aggregates in the area. Civil works started in 1996.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura was also present during the opening. Its construction was funded under the Japan International Cooperation Agency-Official Development Assistance under the second phase of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway Rehabilitation Project.

The official said that the bridge suits the Japanese technology considering that the government awarded the contract to Japan-based Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Company with consultancy of Japanese owned Katahira firm.

The project located in Brgy. Kahupian, Sogod, Southern Leyte calls for the construction of a 350-linear meter bridge, its structure a mix of steel and concrete, supported by two piers from the ground.

Mr. Twano said he expects the Agas-Agas bridge will be one of the most ideal destinations for extreme adventure sports in the country.

The bridge also has a view deck, parking area, rest house, bridge bituminous
concrete surface course and bridge electrical provision. — Sarwell Q. Meniano

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