The Department of Tourism (DOT) turned over kayak and protective gears for the Eco-tourism Product Development Livelihood Project of the Sohoton Services Association, in a ceremony which was conducted on July 24, 2008 at Barangay Inuntan, Basey, Samar.

Said project which is under the Community Based Sustainable Tourism Project, is an undertaking of the community at the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park known worldwide for its natural beauty express in its caves, subterranean rivers, waterfalls and unique limestone formations.

The turn over ceremony is the latest of a series of dialogues, consultations, trainings and interventions for the stakeholders of the National Park, being conducted by the Department of Tourism, which aims to employ community based development as a form of capacity building aimed at generating supplementary livelihood activities at the local level.

The turn-over program commenced with an Invocation led by Ms. Betty Boleche, Sohoton Services Association Vice President. Hon. Wilfredo Estorninos, mayor of Basey welcomed the guests and the participants to the Turn-over Ceremony.

DOT 8 Director Karina Rosa S. Tiopez delivered a message and the Presentation of the Deed of Donation was done by Director Rolando Canizal of the Office of Tourism Development Planning of the Department of Tourism.

The signing of the deed of donation was done by Richard Alibado, president of the Sohoton Services Association of Barangay Inuntan, Basey, Samar and Hon. Joseph Ace Durano, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, represented by Director Canizal, with Mayor Estorninos and Director Tiopes as witnesses.

Director Tiopes said that in August, the Department of Tourism will conduct a consultation with the local Travel and Tour Operators to get their support to the new product.

Finally, Secretary Durano, in April of 2009, will formally launch the new product of the Sohoton Services Association during the Philippine Speleological Society Cave Congress 2009.

On March 3-7, 2008, the Department of Tourism Regional Office 8 conducted a Capability Enhancement Seminar for the members of the Sohoton Services Association and Community Based Resource Management Organization of Barangay Guirang, at Balantak Resort, Barangay Guirang, Basey, Samar.

DOT 8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes informed that this seminar was the third of the series of capability building seminars which are aimed at capacitating the community on the development and management of the Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge located in Basey, Samar, as a means of income augmentation within the framework of biodiversity conservation and development.

Earlier, DOT 8 conducted the Local Cave Guiding Training on January 14-18, 2008 and the Kayaking and First Aide Training on February 4-7, 2008 where the participants were the members of the Sohoton Services Association and the cave guides from other barangays of the Municipality of Basey, Director Tiopes added.

The Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge which is located in Basey, Samar, the banig capital of the Region, is the most visited ecotourism destination in Eastern Visayas, Director Tiopes said. This is the reason why it has been identified as the pilot area for the Community-Based Sustainable Tourism Project of the Department of Tourism.

Director Tiopes disclosed that the project is anchored on organizing Community-Based Sustainable Tourism livelihood projects and capacitate communities ready to implement Community Based Sustainable Tourism livelihood ventures.

In line with the Eastern Visayas Tourism Master Plan which is consistent with the objectives and strategies of the Samar Island National Park General Management Plan, the Department of Tourism prepared an Ecotourism Action plan that will ensure a more dynamic, responsible and sustainable tourism development in the area.

The Ecotourism Action Plan recommended the Community Based Sustainable Tourism Project with the pilot area identified as the Mt. Sohoton Bridge located in Basey, Samar.

The Project has two components, the first is the community preparation and the second is capability building on CBST livelihood project. The Project in Basey is on the second component, Director Tiopes said.

After the conduct of skills training, the purchase of equipments like kayak and life vests, safety helmet with headlight, first aid kits and cave guiding uniforms; and post product development like media familiarization tour, brochure production, establishment of network with industry players, and communication plan will follow, Director Tiopes concluded.

All these interventions are aimed at nurturing and sustaining community awareness, self-help and co-management, fostering a spirit of collective responsibility and equity in relations whilst simultaneously functioning as an effective monitoring mechanism.

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