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By Karla Rey Contributor
For island resorts, doing things
the right way takes more than the usual in terms of resources and
programs. Case in point: it is much easier to build and maintain a
hotel-type structure than strategically locate villas all throughout
the property to maintain a place’s serenity. It is more
investment-heavy to create such developments, entailing bigger
initial and maintenance costs. But if you really think about it,
aiming to be sustainable in all aspects is the only and the right
way to go for it actually protects what a resort is trying to
sell—the island’s natural splendor. While there are many who
have chosen to look the other way, there are some like El Nido
Resorts that operate within this framework.
El Nido is known for its forest
and marine resource including 200 species of fish, 100 species of
corals, 103 bird species and 20 species of mammals, some of which
are endemic to Palawan. It is also a nesting ground for three
species of endangered turtles and boasts of huge limestone cliffs.
And its presence was made more known with El Nido Resorts’
international recognition for the environment protection programs.
Above architectural and
facilities planned with nature as main consideration, Lagen Island
Resort and its sister company, Miniloc Island Resort in northern
Palawan, are managed based on the principles of sustainable
development, where tourism, the practices of the local community and
conservation of the natural environment are in harmony with each
other. The resorts have consistently invested a substantial amount
of time and money into environmental protection and conservation
programs and projects.
These programs are undertaken not
only at the resorts but in the local community as well. One ongoing
conservation project is the rehabilitation of coral reefs through
the installation of eco-reefs made of state-of-the-art ceramic
modules, the first of its kind in the Philippines and only the
second in the world. Other significant projects spearheaded by these
resorts are regular coastal clean ups, marine turtle conservation
program, transplantation of giant clams, monitoring of illegal
marine activities, among others. It is thus no wonder why these El
Nido Resorts are among Conde Nast Traveler 2007’s 12 best and most
environment-friendly resorts in the world.
These island resorts are the only
ones from the Philippines have landed on the “Green List”—what
is touted to be the world’s best guide for tourists. More than 80
applicants coming from different segments of the tourism industry
vied for this much coveted recognition. Besides resorts, honorees
also included tour operators and destinations. They were chosen
based on their environmental preservation efforts, involvement with
local communities and the quality of guest experience. Other tourist
destinations cited are in Antarctica, South Africa, Italy,
Indonesia, Honduras and the United States.
“It’s very important to be
included in this list. It’s a validation of our triple bottom-line
approach [environmental bottom line, corporate social
responsibility, financial bottom line] and a culmination of all our
efforts,” beams Marigo Laririt, environment manager of El Nido
Resorts. The resorts are owned and operated by Ten Knots Development
Corporation which allots 3 percent of its profits to these
environmental initiatives. All of its employees, continues Laririt—from
the gardeners to the divers and guides—have been educated on the
flora and fauna of El Nido, waste management, and how the
preservation of the environment relates to their personal lives. The
resorts have also developed a standardized nature interpretation,
where every guest is provided with information on the natural
surroundings of the resorts, including the introduction of the names
of birds and fish. “It’s heartfelt. We always try to find ways
to relate to our guests how natural resources relate to us. People
not just come and go. There is a deliberate effort to raise their
environmental consciousness,” shares Laririt.
Besides the Conde Nast
recognition, Lagen Island Resort is the only Philippine property
that made it to the top 20 list of Smart Travel Asia’s travel poll
as top Leisure Resorts in Asia. Smart Travel Asia is an online
travel magazine, the authority on travel to and within Asia, read by
over 90,000 affluent frequent travelers worldwide each month. It was
also acclaimed by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as a
world-class resort. This honor was bestowed in recognition of
Lagen Island Resort’s concern for the environment, its location in
a unique destination with towering limestone cliffs and unspoiled
coral reefs and the wide range of activities offered to guests.
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