Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, pushed for the development of the tourism industry in northern Iloilo and raised the idea of turning fishers into tourist guides.

Defensor remarked on the question on how to address the “unlicensed harvesting of a marine resource” in Iloilo seas during the open forum on the first of the two-day investment forum held in Iloilo City.

“More developmental is if we are able to develop alternative and options for the people in northern Iloilo, that’s the best way of guarding the West Visayan Sea. That is to develop tourism so that we will have more opportunities, business, and livelihood for the people there,” he said during the forum organized by the Iloilo provincial government and the Iloilo Provincial Government, and the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc (ILEDF).

He said those who have properties and investments in northern Iloilo can develop fishing villages into communities with established accommodations to host tourists wanting to experience the trade experience of fisherfolks.

“Our fishers will not go fishing for the fish but they will go fishing because they are really tourist guides. There are options. We can develop this with the private sector. We can develop our barangays as tourism laboratories or tourism museum or fishery museum for our tourists,” he said.

He cited Thailand as an example where its agricultural communities are hosting tourists who wanted to see their traditional planting and harvesting of rice.

“That is one area that we want to develop in agri and fishery tourism so that communities can directly benefit from the presence of tourists,” he said.

He called on the private sector to explore together with the province the opportunity to develop the coastal place.

“It’s really a rich place for resources and tourism destinations,” he said.

The initiative, he added, will “reduce the pressure” on the resources of the Visayan Sea while they can be better managed and utilized.

Northern Iloilo’s seas are part of the vast Visayan Sea.

He said that at present, the provincial government has been collaborating with municipalities, universities, and the private sector in managing the Visayan sea and its resources.

The governor said that the province has its own Bantay Dagat Task Force to patrol the coastal waters in northern Iloilo while municipalities also have their task forces.

He added that as the province moves to create the Provincial Civil Defense Office, there is a Provincial Civil Security Group that will absorb the Bantay Dagat Task Force. It will be developed into a multi-role security group that is assigned specifically to manage and guard the Visayan Seas, he said.

The business conference is part of the series of business conferences and meetings that will culminate with an international investment forum scheduled in March next year.Perla Lena/PNA