By Ric Obedencio | 11:53 PM February 03, 2025
Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado ordered by way of Executive Order No. 10, s. of 2025, the indefinite stoppage of all whale shark watching/interaction activities in at least three areas for breaching applicable laws, memoranda, convention agreements and ordinances.
The areas affected are the towns of Lila, which started luring domestic and foreign tourist about 4 years back; Alburquerque town, whose operations are being questioned for it is allegedly located within Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected area; and in Dauis town, the newest.
All the whale watching activities in these towns are reportedly sanctioned by each of the municipal mayor but allegedly without clearance from the Department of environment and Natural Resources (DENR), or the lack of it.
On such violation cited by the governor is the feeding of whale sharks that attract them to interaction areas. The feeding with krills “disrupts their natural behavior and threatens the balance and healthful ecology.”
The governor’s fiat also cited as basis of his action Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-008 and joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. of 2020 by Department of Tourism, DENR, Dept of Agriculture and the Dept if Interior and Local Government (DLG), governing the sustainable marine wildlife tourism interaction.
The governor’s EO ordered the municipal mayors concerned, the Marine police, DENR, Phil. Coast Guard, Bureau of fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Provincial Environment management Office to effectively carry out this order.
The stoppage or suspension of the said activities shall remain enforced “until all applicable requirements under their jurisdiction for these activities have been met following a comprehensive industry-wide consultation with stakeholders and conservation groups.” (Ric Obedencio)
