Silay Mangrove Ecotourism Program
The Mangrove Ecotourism Area at Brgy. Balaring, Silay will be inaugurated at 10:30 am Feb. 19 by Mayor Jose L. Montelibano and Dir. Yorihisa Goto of IKAW-AKO Japan-Negros partnership for Environmental Protection.
The 50-hectare area maintained by the Silay City Government and IKAW-AKO in cooperation with Balaring Mangrove Planters Association (BAMPA) and Balaring Barangay Council features a 500-meter bamboo bridge, cottages and a 30-foot watch tower.
Leo Canson, IKAW-AKO chairman, said that he is also acknowledging the participation of the University of St. La Salle, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, St. Joseph High School, St. Scholastica’s Academy, Colegio de San Agustin, Dona Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School and Don Albino and Dona Dolores Jison Integrated School in the mangrove rehabilitation program of Silay City.
Mari Kurata, the project coordinator, is also bringing Japanese visitors from Japan schools to witness the inauguration ceremony which will feature the collaborative effort of the Filipino and Japanese volunteers in the area.
Ver Pacete, tourism officer of Silay, said that after the project inauguration the Japanese visitors will also visit their other mangrove rehabilitation projects in Cauayan, Danjugan Island, and Sipalay.
Japanese visitors will have interactions also on environmental concerns with the teachers and pupils of Cartagena Elem. School and Canturay.
Prepared by:
GERLE SULMACA
