Preserving the forest, protecting the Tigum-Aganan watershed and the creation of community-based ecotourism projects have helped boost the tourism industry in the Second District towns of Iloilo.

Alimodian mayor Juanito Alipao, chairman of the Tigum-Aganan Watershed Management Board (TAWMB) said they are currently in partnership with the Canadian Urban Institute, a non-government organization in the development of various sites in his municipality and in other upland towns like Maasin, Leon, and Canatuan.

Among those open for tourists are the Agony Hill, Seven Cities and various waterfalls in Alimodian; the Gines Hill, Putting Bato and the bamboo processing plant of Maasin; the rolling hills, the Baguio-like village of Bucari in Leon and historical sites of Cabatuan.

“Ecotourism is important because we create business by protecting and preserving our nature, the forest, the Tigum-Aganan watershed, and the rivers,” Alipao said.

Meanwhile, Andrew Farncombe, vice president for International partnership of CUI, said that aside from sponsoring the economic activities in the upland municipalities, they are also conducting a study on the state of the watershed.

“We aim to preserve the Tigum-Aganan watershed which is the source of life for thousands of people in the mentioned upland towns but also in Iloilo City,” he said.

The CUI has also partnered with the Metro-Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council to expand its program in integrating environmental sustainability among its projects.

The MIGEDC is composed of the municipalities of Leganes, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, San Miguel, Oton, the city of Iloilo and the province of Guimaras.*