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A national road show event bringing together key players and stakeholders in the tourism industry to discuss best practices and challenges in the field of eco-tourism and eco-productivity and their contribution to the local and national economy was conducted here at the Bohol Pavilion of the renowned Bohol Beach Club specifically yesterday January 23, 2010.

The event, which is the third leg in the series (first one being in Manila last October 8, 2009 and the second just last January 22, 2010) is initiated by the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation or RPDEV in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, the Herma Group and supported by the Provincial Government of Bohol, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources and the Asia Pacific Projects, Incorporated has gathered about 170 participants from different sectors such as the individuals from the government, tourism industry, private sector, academe, media, church, business, media, the youth sectors and NGOs in the province.

Subjects discussed at the conference were the Challenges of Climate Change and Tourism by Mr. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, CEO/Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the World Wildlife Fund who had presented an alarming scenario if the Province does not assist in mitigating and adapting to the effects of Climate Change. Bohol Provincial Tourism Council chair Atty. Lucas Nunag bared stumbling blocks in the province's tourism industry as he presented the Challenges of Tourism Development in the province. Mr. William Granert, President of the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation, Inc. and Mr. Adrian Ross, Chief Technical Officer of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia or PENSEA , each showed benchmarking programs in both mainland and coastal areas of concern respectively.

Keynote speaker of the event was no other than "Ex-President" H.E. Fidel V. Ramos who also chairs RPDEV emphasizing on the sustainability of tourism and the environment going hand in hand.           
This landmark road show project by RPDEV Chairman and "ex-president" Fidel V. Ramos, Eco-Mismo comes in the wake of Typhoon Ondoy, which triggered the most devastating flood in the capital over the past 40 years. According to experts, the Ondoy phenomenon ran in line with an observed abnormal pattern of unusually extreme weather conditions likely to prevail should climate change remain unaddressed.

Other schedules and venues of the conference are; February 19, 2010 in General Santos City, South Cotabato Province; and February 20 at Isla Parilla in Alabel, Sarangani Province.

Eco-Mismo paves the way for a cross-section of industry players and multi-sectoral stakeholders to discuss problems and map out solutions on matters concerning eco-tourism, eco-productivity, and sustainable development.

The conferences will tackle specific areas that will facilitate public and private sector cooperation in streamlining eco-tourism's strategic directions as a key contributor to the local and national economy. It seeks to promote green travel through eco-productivity -- a practical solution that pushes efficient and productive use of resources, environmental protection, and poverty eradication.

Ultimately, Eco-Mismo hopes to provide a blueprint for tourism industry stakeholders in such areas as supply management, water resource management, energy efficiency, clean development mechanism, and solid waste management and community participation in sustainable development practices.

The Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDEV), in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is organizing a series of conferences which will focus on ecotourism and eco-productivity, entitled "ECO MISMO: The Philippine Conference on Ecotourism and Eco-productivity".

The conference aims to raise environmental awareness by gathering key players and stakeholders in the environment and tourism industry. It will also provide a venue for local government officials and private sector representatives to share best practices and discuss possible solutions to challenges, both in policy and development in the fields of ecotourism and eco-productivity. (BEGTZabala-PGMA)

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