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The Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary spans five hectares from the beachfront of the hotel property. It was formally established by the Lapu-Lapu City Council, filing it under City Ordinance 425-B-2006 last 26 November, 2006. The Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary program is the first of its kind in the country, and provides a good case study for eco-tourism that is co-managed through direct involvement of the community and private sector.

United States of America Ambassador Kristie Kenney officially launched the Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary, together with Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa General Manager Timothy Wright.

The Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary Stewardship Group is composed of the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Scotty’s Action Sports Network & Dive Centre, and Amores Charities, Inc., to share responsibility of protecting the fragile coral reefs of Mactan, Cebu. The agreement grants the Stewardship Group 15 years of stewardship rights and obligations for the management of the sanctuary.

“This partnership between Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa and the City of Lapu-Lapu strengthens our mutual commitment to be environmental stewards to ensure the safety and sustainability of our waters,” Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa General Manager Timothy Wright said. “We are fully committed to help protect and preserve the environment. It is our belief that responsibility lies not just in offering excellent quality of service-related products, but more so in being good, proactive stewards of the very environment in which we operate.”

In March 2001, Shangri-La Mactan received an ISO 14001 certification, the international Environmental Management System standard, awarded only to organizations which are able to show ISO 14001 compliance throughout all operations, encompassing environmentally-friendly and cost efficient practices that include installing energy-saving light bulbs, biodegradable cleaning materials, water restrictors, and sewage treatment facilities to prevent water pollution.

Furthermore, the hotel management and staff participate in coral recovery programs and monthly beach clean ups, in which staff with diving licenses fish out litter from the sea depth.

The Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary Stewardship Programme is an unprecedented step in eco-tourism, and the hotel looks forward to more activities that will have a positive impact in the community. Among its other projects geared toward environmental conservation are:

      • Operation of sewerage treatment plant

A sewage treatment plant was constructed to manage waste by means of processing waste to water and simultaneously providing water to irrigate its extensive landscaped gardens. This treatment process has decreased the consumption of water from the local water district resulting in less operational costs.

      • Coral recovery program

With the support of the Marine Development Department, loose corals are transplanted in the snorkeling area fronting the Resort's beach to regenerate coral life and construct a permanent coral garden abundant with fish. Through the efforts of Marine Development, coordination was made with the Lapu-Lapu city government to declare the areas fronting The Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary.

      • Operation of desalination plant

A US$1.4 million water desalination plant processes the Resort’s drinking water producing very clean, clear, good tasting supply. The plant production brought about a very significant decrease in water consumption from the local district. The facility is capable of producing an average of 900 cubic meters of water daily while the resort’s consumption is 800 cubic meters.

Contact:

Ms. Sharon R. Samarista, Director of Communications

E-mail: [email protected]

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