• CHERYL G. CRUZ
An information center and tourist one-stop-shop will soon rise at Gawahon Eco-park in Victorias City to showcase the rich biodiversity, and position it as a world-class birding destination.
The groundbreaking ceremony June 11 for this sub-project of the P13 million “Gawahon, A Birder’s Paradise” initiative of the city government, was led by Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, along with other tourism and city officials.
The infra project will serve as an education and orientation hub for tourists, showcasing the rich biodiversity of Gawahon, Benitez said in his message. “This center will feature a visitor orientation area, a viewing deck, interpretive galleries on birds and native species, and a shop that will sell locally-crafted souvenirs.”
The mayor noted that Gawahon Eco-Park is truly a birder’s paradise, as it is home to 106 bird species and more than 55 mammals, and herpetofauna, which many are endemic, endangered, and threatened.
“Keeping this site as a sustainable eco-tourism destination is important in promoting long-term conservation and preservation, protecting the area’s rich biodiversity and ecosystems”, hence the city’s “Gawahon: A Birder’s Paradise” entry to the DOT’s Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC) in 2023.
This entry was among the Top 15 out of 98 proposals from 90 LGUs all over the country, with Victorias receiving an P8 million funding from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and an additional P5-million grant from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the awarding ceremony in April 2024.
Frasco said that through this P13 million investment, “we are building more than trails and facilities, we’re building a future where biodiversity is protected, local stories are told, and where economic opportunity is rooted in Filipino identity and culture.”
Victorias has embraced the TCC with excellence, she stressed and commended the city for “championing a vision that balances tourism with conservation, and economic advancement with ecological integrity.”
“‘Gawahon: A Birder’s Paradise’ is proof that when national vision aligns with local determination, we can build something truly meaningful and lasting,” Frasco stressed, as she also led the signing of the memorandum of agreement, after the groundbreaking, to formalize the project’s implementation and define the roles and responsibilities of agencies involved.
The tripartite MOA was also signed by Benitez and TIEZA assistant chief operating officer Jetro Nicolas Lozada, and witnessed by DOT Region 6 director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez and provincial tourism officer Cheryl Decena, representing Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Victorias Councilor and incoming vice mayor Derek Palanca said the MOA “signing reflects the potential of Gawahon as an eco-tourism site and also our shared responsibility to manage this potential wisely. We aim to strike a clear balance, protecting what must be preserved, while thoughtfully building what will benefit our people.”
This project includes essential infrastructure, such as an information and education center, but equally important are the programs that will support local livelihoods, train community partners, and encourage conservation through awareness and participation, he added.
Benitez said he hopes that this development will further increase tourist arrivals in Victorias. “Positioning Gawahon Eco-Park as a world-class birding destination will stimulate not only local economic growth but will also bring benefits to neighboring municipalities through increased tourism spillover. This expanded reach can promote regional development and strengthen inter-LGU collaboration in sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship.”
Gawahon Eco-Park already boasts of a boating lagoon, accommodation facilities, like duplex cottages, a viewing deck villa, staff house, multipurpose hall, a swimming pool, and a Friendship Park featuring a traditional Okinawan House, and multi-tiered waterfalls. | CGC
