PARANAS, SAMAR – A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been recently signed between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Local Government of Las Navas in the province of Northern Samar to jointly develop and manage the Pinipisakan Falls and Ginagatusan Caves, both located in the vicinity of Barangay San Isidro of said town, as an ecotourism destination.

DENR Regional Executive Director Regidor M. De Leon said that pursuant to the MOA, the DENR and LGU Las Navas will allocate, protect, develop and manage the said ecotourism sites, among other tourist destinations in this locality for recreational purposes.

De Leon added that management of the said areas, however, should be consistent with the approved General Management Plan formulated for the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), a protected area established by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 442 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on August 13, 2003.

The country’s largest natural park was established within the legal and development framework of the National Integrated Protected Area System Act of 1992 (RA 7586) which provides for the protection and management of biologically important areas by the DENR, local government units, other government agencies and concerned private organizations.

The SINP covers 36 municipalities (including Las Navas) and one city in the three provinces of Samar Island. Old and second growth forests make up the SINP’s 333,300 hectares core zone and 125,400 hectares buffer zone.

To finance its initial undertaking, the DENR through its Samar Island Biodiversity Project (SIBP) under United Nation Development Program (UNDP) funding has allocated four hundred thousand pesos (P400, 000.00). This amount shall be used to develop visitor’s facilities, conduct social preparation, and create livelihood opportunities through ecotourism services, consistent with projects identified in the approved SINP General Management Plan.

Some of the proposed projects include the construction of a boat landing, view deck and additional cottages and comfort rooms, which are basic facilities for tourists, in the vicinity of the above-mentioned ecotourism sites. Production of signage reminders, trail maps that will serve as guide to tourists was also suggested.

Meantime, Las Navas Mayor Arlito A. Tan thanked the DENR for assisting them in the development of the Pinipisakan Falls and the Ginagatusan Caves. He also encouraged his constituents to help in making the area tourist friendly by maintaining its cleanliness, peace and order.

As this developed, ecotourism in the Pinipisakan Falls and the Ginagatusan caves is expected to bring in livelihood opportunities to the people and spur economic development in Las Navas, its villages and neighboring communities.