TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) –When Bohol was initiated into the global geoparks network by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with 17 geoparks, 16 cultural and archaeological sites and 4 biological sites, these are not just it.
Bohol Tourism Officer-in-charge Joanne Pinat told Kapihan sa PIA that these are the ones initially listed as these are the ones with benchmark data that could show the status of the sites and relevant information that are needed for the UN evaluators to get a glimpse of the uniqueness and the scientific and cultural value of these sites.
Speaking over the online forum on Bohol tourism initiatives in celebration of the World Tourism Day, Pinat, who used to work as tourism planning officer and is a practicing agro-tourism learning site operator, hinted that the list is still open for sites that communities could protect and conserve, by providing data of these sites and details on the management and conservation measures in place.
Of the 17 geological sites listed in the local geoparks website, UNESCO has approved the inclusion of the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis, Uplifted marine Terraces and Coral Gardens in Loon, Uplifted Marine Terrace and Punta Cruz Watchtower in Maribojoc, Can-umantad Falls in Candijay, Canawa Spring in Candijay, Cabagnow Cave pool in Anda, Combento Cave Pool in Anda, Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef which runs parallel to northeastern Bohol, Cagong-cagong Cave System in Alicia, 2013 Earthquake Rupture Site in Inabanga, Alicia Schist in Alicia, The Alicia Panoramic Park in Alicia, Lamanok Island in Anda, Batungay Caverns in Trinidad, Ancient Uplifted Marine Terraces in baclayon and Cadapdapan Rice Terraces in Candijay.
As to the 16 cultural and archeological sites, these include the National Museum Bohol or the old Capitol Building in Tagbilaran City, Lamanok Point in Anda, Punta Criz Watchtower in Maribojoc, Eskaya Indigenous People in Duero, Sandugo Site in Loay, Loboc River in Loboc, Santa Cruz Parish Church in Maribojoc, Santa Monica parish Church in Alburquerque, Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Baclayon, Our Lady of the Assumption parish Church in Dauis, San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church in Dimiao, Holy Trinity Parish Church in Loay, San Pedro Apostol Parish Church in Loboc, Our Lady of Light Parish Church in Loon, Saint Augustine Parish Church in Panglao and Santo Nino Parish Church in Getafe.
For the biological sites, Pinat named the following: Balicasag Island off Panglao, Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape in Bilar, and Banacon Island Mangrove Forest in Getafe.
In Bohol, the national government has also recognized several areas already in the integrated protected areas systems for their unique contribution to the ecology and the environment.
While some of these protected areas are already in the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS) list, others which are already showing government and community protection, preservation and conservation.
These include the Alejawan-Cansuay-Anibongan River Watershed Forest Reserve in Guindulman, Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected Landscape and Seascapes in Albur, Loay and Loboc, Panglao Island Protected Seascape in Panglao, Cabilao and Sandingan island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve, Panggangan Island Mangrove Swamp Forest reserve, Tubigon Group of Islets and Wilderness areas in Tubigon, Clarin Group of Islets and Wilderness Areas in Clarin, Inabanga-Buenavista Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve and Wilderness areas in Buenavista, Getafe Mangrove Swamp and Forest Reserve and Wilderness Areas in Getafe, Ubay Mangrove Forest Swamp Reserve in Ubay, Candijay Anda Mabini Mangrove Forest Reserve and Wilderness Areas and Pres Carlos P. Garcia Mangrove Swamp and Forest reserve and Wilderness areas in Pres Carlos P. Garcia.
Within this NIPAS list are Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Chocolate Hills Natural Monument, Loboc Watershed Forest reserve for Loboc River, Panglao Island Protected Seascape for Balicasag Island, and the Getafe Mangrove Swamp and Forest Reserve and Wilderness Areas for the Banacon Island Mangrove Forest and the Candijay-Anda-Mabini Swamp Forest reserve.
For Boholanos too, other potential areas include the Carmaloan Cave in Odiong Jagna, Mount Matunog in Jagna, and the remaining heritage churches, building and stone towers spread all over the islands. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
