Terra Incognita: Palaui

From Jetset magazine, January/February 2007

Six, four and two are the numbers to remember for Palaui Island. It stands for 642 , the distance of Manila to San Vicente, the last barangay in the northeastern portion of the island of Luzon. The numbers may be seen at the last km. marker near the fishport, which is the jump-off point to Palaui Island. It is fast becoming a tourist attraction in itself as visitors stop to have their pictures taken as proof that they have reached the tip of Luzon. They also stand for Six For Two, a special package designed for tourists who wish to know first hand what the island is all about. “Six activities for two days” provide a life changing experience as they explore the terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and learn about the history of the Century-old light house built by the Spaniards. Visitors who sign up for this program are taught how to snorkel on the reef and seagrass meadows, go through an interpretative hike along a primary forest, be part of a beach clean-up and learn about the issue on reef trash, plant mangroves, hike up the light house and learn about its history, and walk along the tidal pool areas.


A well kept secret
I first set foot on the island 15 years ago and it took a day to travel from Manila. Back then Palaui Island was one of those well kept secrets only seen by a few. Today, it is very accessible by land. The road network is very good and it is mere 2 ½ hours drive from Tuguegarao City, the capital of Cagayan province. A mere 1.2 mile of water separates this enchanting island from the mainland. In August 16, 1994, the entire 7,415 hectare island was declared a Marine Reserve under the category of Protected Landscape and Seascape. Palaui Island is part of the municipality of Sta. Ana and the Cagayan Freeport. The latter is being managed by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). The island has been identified as a priority site for tourism development. As such a community-based sustainable tourism project was launched early this year by CEZA in partnership with the local government of Sta. Ana and the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.

No major tourism effort has yet been made to promote the island, such that many residents of the province don’t even know of it. It has several natural ecosystems that are well preserved and can provide opportunities for outdoor activities. ”The island is the pride of Sta. Ana, hence the kind of tourism that we will implement will make sure that this paradise is protected and preserved.,” says Sta. Ana Mayor Norberto Victor Rodriguez.


Hotspot among hotspots
Because Barangay San Vicente, the jump-off point for Palaui Island may one day become a hub of economic activity. The landscape is fast undergoing a facelift as new buildings go up. Port Irene, built during the Marcos era is getting a refurbishing as a result in the increase in the number of businesses in the zone. Soon flights from Laoag or Tuguegarao may be landing at the airstrip over at the Naval Base and bring in the tourists. When this happens, Sta. Ana will become a major gateway in the north.

“Whether we like it or not, tourism will happen in this place. Uncontrolled tourism has devastating effects both to the culture of the people and the environment. Planning is essential to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the benefits for the economy and the environment, “ says CEZA Administrator Jose Mari Ponce.


During a hike in the primary forest with Dr.Perry Ong, the chairman of the Institute of Biology of the University of the Philippines, I learned that the island harbors species which are yet to be identified. An inventory by Conservation International revealed at least two unidentified floral specimens. The islands biodiversity is very high. It may even be a hotspot among hotspots in the country since globally threatened and near -threatened species of birds, mammals and plants have been found here. The very colorful dwarf king fisher is a threatened species and scientists discovered it during an expedition last summer. It will not be surprising then if marine biologists also find unidentified specimens underwater. When American marine biologist Terence Gosslinger of the California Academy of Sciences saw a documentary about the island, he said that one of the nudibranchs (colorful marine snail without a shell) had not yet been named.

Waterworld
The saying, “The underwater terrain is an extension of the coastline” is very much true in Palaui Island. Just as cliffs and rock formations characterize the western coast, underwater are caves, tubes, tunnels and overhangs. The reefs over at this side of the island represents the best dive sites. Soft corals, crinoids, shells, stingrays, turtles and tropical fish in varied hues dominate the reefs. Whales and dolphins are often spotted from the boats and never fail to fascinate visitors.

During the rainy season this rugged portion of the island is riddled with at least 24 waterfalls. The scenery is surreal and enchanting specially to those who are not used to seeing waterfalls by the beach. Over at the northern tip is a light house built during the Spanish era. It stands on top of a hill and provides a magnificent view of Dos Hermanos Islands and the Babuyan Channel. Once I even saw wild carabaos and horses running across the grassland below, only to disappear into the forest as quickly as they have appeared.


Just as the northeast wind will soon be sweeping over the landscape of northeast Luzon, major changes in the lives of the people will soon be underway. Sta. Ana will become a hub not only for businesses but also for a special brand of tourism that focuses on outdoor education. If that happens, then the natural ecosystems of Palaui Island may well become one of the country’s better known natural sanctuaries , one that will teach people the value of resource protection and conservation.

The need for experts to facilitate the planning process.

Often the planning process is done in a haphazard manner, without a clear understanding of the “real” process. Planning groups think that hiring facilitators and experts is a waste of valuable resources. Some copy and paste old plans of other places without realizing that plans need to be site-specific and updated to the needs of the times. They cannot be simply copied. Plans are not cast in stone and need to be modified when changes occur in the social and environmental aspects or political structure in the community. It is vital that research and data gathering be initiated to provide the experts with a basis for the Situational Analysis. This tool provides the starting point in the planning process and point towards the desired future. Tools are used to identify priority sites and secondary sites and analyze the major and minor players in the industry (Stakeholder Analysis). Tools are also used to determine readiness level of the community for the changes that tourism will bring.
Experts are not only trained in the use of these planning tools, but they are also specialists in the facilitation process and are knowledgeable in contemporary strategies that had been tested in other places. Without professional guidance, the Plan Output may not represent the authentic preferred direction of the people. In the long run, this type of plan will not yield the optimum outcome and the desired future. Facilitation by experts on the planning process will ensure that the Plan is properly and professionally crafted and represents the common vision stakeholders.

What is a Tourism Development Plan?

A Sustainable Tourism Development Plan is a blueprint that guides community leaders, investors and stakeholders in the creation of an industry. It focuses on activities that prepare the destination such as organizing, capacity-building , infrastructure development and product development. It likewise focuses on strategies to attract tourists, minimize negative impacts of development and maximize benefits. The Plan defines priority sites as well as secondary destinations, access routes, modes, and gateways. It indicates clustering and partnership opportunities. It describes how the community will manage the influx of visitors. It shows which areas of the community that will be shared with tourists and those which will not. It would identify which sectors will be affected positively and negatively. It considers the fundamental questions of the cost of tourism to the community and how the community will capture potential benefits.
A Sustainable Tourism Development Plan is a public document or presentation generally consisting of maps, drawings, definitions, vision & mission statements, goals, objectives, descriptions, policy statements and action programs. It is the result of research and public planning process. The Plan Document should include all the public choices made by residents about future tourism development of their community. Those choices should be based on information gathered through research and public discussion and consensus building.

Why Plan for Tourism

In many places in the world, tourism simply is an industry that sprouted from the need to derive economic benefit through the promotion of an attraction. In most cases, the growth was not based on any plan or clear direction. Tourism just happened to these communities.
Here are a few basic knowledge about tourism:
Unlike most economic activities where resources are harvested, goods and services are manufactured and products are shipped out to consumers, in tourism people flow to the consumable rather than the consumable flowing to them. The destination plus the amenities and services form the tourism product.
Large or small, near or far, willing or unwilling, tourism happens in communities everywhere in the world. It happens whenever an outsider comes to buy gas, shops, eats, spends the night or stays for whatever reason . They come, they stay awhile, they interact with community residents, they look around, check out the attractions, they may or may not spend money, and in the end, they leave having some kind of impression in the minds about the place they just visited.
Tourism is a double-edged sword. It can result to both negative and positive impacts. People tend to look at the economic impact and only discover its negative effects on the culture and environment years later.
Given that tourism happens in communities, the people should then ask themselves if they want tourism to happen to them (and result to uncontrolled development) or for it to happen for them.
In most cases tourism simply happens to a community, and this results to negative impacts that are often irreversible. Uncontrollable development is a result of lack or absence of a plan that provides the proper guidance for development. Places like Boracay, Puerto Galera and Baguio are classic examples of places where tourism simply happened. It may be true that economic benefit are being derived from the tourism industry, but the environmental degradation and cultural erosion cannot be ignored. These represent the price that was paid for tourism development.
If the choice is for tourism to happen for the community, then there is a need to plan. Planning provides a mechanism of control by the stakeholders and the people of the community. It serves as a blueprint for success and is built upon a consensus for a common goal.