by Sally R. Villasis
To promote the Katunggan It Ibajay (KII) as Centuries-old Mangrove Eco-park and a prime ecotourism attraction, the Aklan State University through its College of Hospitality and Rural Resources Management and Development (ASU-CHARRM) in Ibajay, Aklan led the Eco-Walk on October 6, 2012.
Some 437 University officials, faculty, staff and students of ASU-CHARRM studying Tourism, Teacher Education, Environmental Science, Agriculture, National Service Training Program, together with the faculty and students of Naisud National High School, Naisud Barangay Council, Sangguniang Kabataan members, and personnel of Ibajay Philippine National Police participated and enjoyed the 18-kilometer walk.
The organizers promoted and encouraged healthy walk and healthy environment as well as enhanced awareness on the value of Going Back to Basics on the use of indigenous and recycled materials.
This year’s Eco-Walk stretched from ASU-CHARRM gate through Barangay Colongcolong, San Isidro, Naisud, Bugtongbato, then all the way to the DENR nursery up to the Jawili Falls in Tangalan and back to KII. However, only 25 percent of the participants successfully made it back to KII.
One of the activities during the Eco-Walk was bagging of some 3,000 polyethylene bags for mangrove seedlings at the Ibajay Eco-Park or the Katunggan It Ibajay.
The event was a joint undertaking of the ASU-CHARRM, University Extension and Community Services and the Peoples Organizations for KII, Naisud Mangrove and Aquatic Association and Bungtongbato Fisherfolks Association.
The Mangrove Eco-Tourism Park “Katunggan It Ibajay” located at Barangays Bugtongbato and Naisud, Ibajay, Aklan was launched on January 19, 2010.
According to Dr. Marivel S. Villorente, CHARRM faculty and project leader of the project “Katunggan It Ibajay, a Centuries-Old Mangrove Eco-Park is An Alternative Tourism site in Aklan,” the Katunggan It Ibajay is the only and most diverse natural growth mangrove community in the whole Philippines and probably even in Southeast Asia as confirmed by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center–Aquaculture Department.
A total of 27 species of mangroves or 80 percent of the total 35 Philippine mangrove species with its exotic, giant and century-old “piapi” trees grow in Ibajay.
The 44.22-hectare mangrove area is declared as Mangrove Eco-Tourism Park through the Municipal Ordinance No. 092, s. 2009.
ASU Ibajay expressed its full support through the presence of the CHARRM Executive Director, Dr. Roberto L. Saladar, together with the Director of Extension and Community Services, Prof. Alexander I. Ramos.
As a project partner, ASU-CHARRM conducts training activities on eco-tourism and value adding of food products to the tour guides, people’s organization and other stakeholders in the community.
The project is implemented in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Ibajay and the Community-based Mangrove Rehabilitation Project in the Philippines of the Zoological Society of London. /MP
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