Donsol in Sorsogon is leveling up its eco-tourism drive with the launching of two key projects to bolster the sight-seeing of its famous “butandings.”
The first project launched is the “Pagbutwa” project in collaboration with the municipal government of Donsol and other stakeholders. This was launched on January 17, 2024 with the anticipated arrival of domestic and foreign tourists in Donsol.
It aims to enhance and sustain the eco-tourism experience not only in Sorsogon but in the entire Bicol region.
The second project to be launched is the Kagandahan (Beautification) program by Sorsogon provincial government.
“Pagbutwa” is a Sorsoganon term that means emergence or arrival. It is an invitation to see the hidden marine beauty of Donsol as the whale sharks rise from the sea, ready to interact with the sightseers.
“We launched the Pagbutwa project this January as this is the month that marks the Butanding season on the coast of Donsol and becomes the town’s prime attraction,” Bobby Gigantone, Provincial Tourism, Culture, and Arts Office (PTCAO) of Sorsogon head, said.
“This project aims to enhance and sustain the eco-tourism experience not only in Sorsogon but in the entire Bicol region. It promises a memorable experience by celebrating the natural beauty of Sorsogon while contributing to the economic empowerment and environmental sustainability of the province,” he added.
The project was also designed to support the local boatmen by providing them with subsidies to enhance their boats, thus creating more livelihood opportunities and boosting tourism.
New boats provided
As a part of the boat enhancement project, 171 new boats with uniform colors were given to 42 boat operators in Donsol under the Kagangahan project that has a funding of P6 million.
Earlier this month, Sorsogon Gov. Edwin Hamor instructed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office to profile boat operators, crew and Butanding Interaction Officers (BIOs) who will benefit from the boat enhancement project.
Gigantone said the P6 million worth of enhancement project also seeks to give the best experience to every tourist during whale shark interaction in Donsol.
“From the time they arrived in the area, we want to showcase the neatness, beauty, and cleanliness of our facilities up to the personnel. We want to showcase the improved aesthetic appearance of the boats as part of the package of tourism in Donsol,” Gigantone said.
“The incentives come after the boat operators complied with the standard set by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina). Our priority is the safety and security of our guests so those who support and observe the government’s protocols must also be assisted,” he added.
Elmer Quizon, the president of the Butanding Interaction Officer’s Association, said that the project was a big help for them, particularly the training that enhanced their communication skills and made it easy for them to interact with their guests. The P2,500 financial assistance per person was also a big help.
Quizon, who has been a BIO for about 20 years now, said the life of a BIO is very exciting but also very challenging.
“It is exciting because we get to meet people of different nationalities and statuses in life. At sea, we are in charge of giving lectures and making sure everyone follows us. It becomes challenging because whale shark interaction has an on-and-off season, and we must know how to manage our earned money to survive during lean months. Quizon said.
Samuel Sueso, the president of the Butanding Boat Operator’s Association and a boat operator for 23 years, said that the project is helping him sustain his children’s studies. He also mentioned that two of his children were inspired to take a tourism course because of his work as a boat operator.
Sueso said the Butanding off-season affects their economic activities, just like it does for other boat operators. However, he is grateful for the abundance of marine life in Donsol waters.
During the lean season, they go fishing.
Quizon and Sueso appealed to the local government to help them find better alternative jobs, especially during the off-season.
Expected tourist arrivals
Gigantone said that in 2024, they are expecting to welcome at least 1.2 million domestic and foreign tourists.
“In Sorsogon, we have a variety of destinations that will surely make their stay memorable as our tagline (is) ‘Beautiful Sorsogon!—Where Beauty is Everywhere.’ They can visit the Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm in Bulusan and the Barcelona Agrihope Tourism Farm in Barcelona, the Subic Beach in Matnog, the hot springs in Irosin, and the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park,” he said.
Sorsogon province can be accessible via land and air by visitors coming from Manila, and via boat from Samar and Cebu.
Whale sharks populate Donsol waters from November to June, with peak numbers in January.
The best months to see and interact with them are from February to April. These gentle giants cruise Donsol waters because their primary food sources, plankton and algae, are abundant in Donsol River, which feeds into Donsol Bay.
As of 2023, the World Wildlife Fund – Donsol has identified 43 individual whale sharks that have visited its waters, 16 of which are newcomers to Donsol. This brings the total number of identified whale sharks in the Philippines to 2,040.
