In a spate of luck, in October of 2011, the Bulusan Area
Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Support Project
was granted funds by the Global Environmental Facility
The project involved fifty-hectare reforestation of the denuded
area of BVNP due to slash-and-burn farming and illegal cutting
of trees; establishment of six community-based nurseries in six
bounding barangays of BVNP; organization and mobilization
of People’s Organizations (PO) in the said barangays and
environmental education and as a form of advocacy known
to the communities as ‘Dalaw Turo’. In addition, training to the
beneficiaries was conducted for them to serve as Naturalist/
Mountain Guiding and Wildlife Enforcement Officer (WEO).
Likewise, technologies where introduced in Sustainable
Agriculture on Organic Vegetable Farming, Beekeeping,
Handicraft, Pili Pulp Oil Production and Aqua-culture. In return,
beneficiaries serve as Volunteer Environmental Stewards as
deputized WEO by DENR and Emergency Responders to
Tourists in times of need and to their communities during
calamities such as typhoons and volcanic ash explosions.
Moreover, agricultural products will be developed using new
technologies to form part of the fusion of Agriculture and
Tourism, also known as Agri-Tourism.
Life has come a full circle for me and Noel. From a shabby
nipa hut that had a kitchen on bare ground, our family of four
now lives in a semi-concrete structure with two rooms and a
toilet and bath. Before we used to throw waste into the fields
around the house. Now we take greater care, because now
we have found home.
Tourism indeed means jobs. Keeping a job means
being able also to reach out to others. Tourism
pays, and it pays to protect and conserve the
environment.