Turtle sanctuary brings

promise to Davao lumads

PUNTA Dumalagin Davao City is most popular for its sea turtle (pawikan) sanctuary.

It is an opportunity for the indigenous peoples living around the sanctuary to earn from agritourism, according to new research presented at the First National Agritourism Research Conference to be held on June 27-29 at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna.

Jointly organized by SEARCA and the Tourism Foundation, Inc. of the University of the Philippines Diliman-Asian Institute of Tourism, the conference was held on June 27-29.

The Davao research was conducted by Ma. Rina Quelistino of the University of Mindanao. The study determined how the residents around the Pawikan sanctuary perceived the income potential of the site.

All photos from Davao Tourism website

The study revealed that the sanctuary offered high economic potential through employment of the “lumads” or indigenous peoples and opportunities for a new tourism business.

Interestingly, the lumads anticipated a high investment return for businesses revolving around the sanctuary. It is both a boon and a bane.

Too much commercialization of the site would overburden the site and may disturb the sea turtles, the study observes. Still, commerce is a sure activity that would improve the conditions of local residents.

The sea turtle sanctuary is a story in the making. The potential of income and the threat to the pawikans due to influx of businesses must be balanced with improving the lives of the people around the sanctuary and turtle conservation.

Nesting Site of the critically endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle
located at Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, Davao City.
Photos and caption from Davao Tourism website.

The agritourism conference, organized by SEARCA and the Asian Institute of Tourism, University of the Philippines Diliman, will focus on the current status of research and development on the agritourism industry.

“Consolidating research outputs and initiatives related to agriculture and tourism will have a stronger impact on the reduction of poverty and the protection of natural resources,” says Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., SEARCA Director. “It emphasizes agritourism as an important tool to diversify farming and boost rural economies as well.”

“For an agricultural country like the Philippines, which through the years has also poised itself as a world-class tourism hub, the potential contribution of agritourism to the stability and growth of the economy could not be underestimated,” he points out.

The conference will bring together investors and entrepreneurs, industry regulators, organizations and the academe engaged in agritourism research and development projects.

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