Bud Bongao council to develop municipal tourism management

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ZAMBOANGA CITY -– The municipal government of Bongao is eyeing the establishment of eco-tourism office that would manage the Bud Bongao Conservation Area.

Bongao Mayor Jasper Que said in a statement through the World Wide Fund-Philippines that the plan was discussed by the Members of the Bud Bongao Management Council (BBMC) in a recent meeting.

Que said they also discussed the development of a municipal tourism management and development plan aside from the establishment of an eco-tourism office.

“We will make Bud (Mount) Bongao better and maintain it as the most visible landmark in Bongao,” Que said.

Bongao, which comprises of 35 barangays, is a second class municipality and the de facto capital of the province of Tawi-Tawi. It has a population of 79,362 as of 2010 census.

The BBMC reviewed environmental issues and conservation efforts done over the past years for Bud Bongao through development grant support from the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF).

Bud Bongao has three types of management zones: strict protection zones; special zones; and, cultural zones.

There are 36 bird species and at least 36 tree species found in the area.

The revered mountain hosts a 102.64-hectare strict protection zone, plus a 222.64-hectare buffer zone.

It is the first local government unit-managed conservation area in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.