The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) advocatd the importance of proper environmental management to eco-tourism sites and attractions owners particularly those located in protection and multiple land use areas in the province of South Cotabato.
PEMO chief Siegfred Flaviano disclosed that during a forum entitled “The Brutal Truth about Eco-Tourism” during the celebration of Lunggo ng Matutum last March in Tupi town, he espoused among tourism sites owners to have an environmental management program such as Solid Waste Management (SWM) program that include segretation at source and recycling as well as implement protection and conservation measures mandated by law particularly if they are located in protected areas.
He added that it isequally important that tourism operators should have sufficient knowledge on environment conservation and protection as responsible owners in order to sustain their operation and likewise help educate their clients about it.
PEMO also plan to institute collection of environmental fees in established tourist spots in order to have a trust fund that could help sustain the implementation of their mandated functions in promoting the conservation and protection of our natural resources.
The PEMO chief was the Resource Speaker during the recent Kapihan sa Kapitolyo Media Forum of the Provincial Information Office held at the South Cotabato Provincial Capitol.
