Tacloban City (October 23) -- In line with the Arroyo Administration’s thrust and in connection with the plan to make Central Philippines Super Region as the Tourism Center of the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will launch the Ulot Watershed Ecotourism Loop project at the Visayas State University in Tacloban City at 9:00 o’clock in the morning of October 26, 2006.

DENR 8 Regional Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca informed that the launching is part of the implementation of the Ulot Watershed Model Forest Project being spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ulot Watershed Model Forest Stakeholders in cooperation with other project partners.

Director Sibbaluca said that the major objective of the Ulot Watershed Ecotourism Loop is to promote economic development to the host communities while undertaking environmentally compatible ecotourism and conservation activities within the model forest.

The Ulot Watershed Model Forest, Director Sibbaluca informed, is situated in the municipalities of Paranas, Hinabangan, San Jose de Buan and Motion in the province of Samar and in the municipalities of Can-avid and Taft in the province of Eastern Samar.

During the launching program, the Ecotourism Management Plan for the major as well as the ancillary ecotourism destination within the Model Forest will be presented, Director Sibbaluca said.

It is the hope of DENR that laying down the plans to the existing and would be partners will enable the Stakeholders Federation to draw the much needed support and commitment for the upcoming ecotourism project.

The Ulot Watershed Model Forest promises to improve the lives of the people in the host communities while at the same time undertaking environmentally compatible ecotourism and conservation activities, Director Sibbaluca said.