Tags: Environment, Hotels and Resorts, Travel Concerns and Advisories
By Anna Valmero
SIARGAO ISLAND, SURIGAO DEL NORTE – Despite the island’s stature as the country’s surfing capital, resort owners still lament the the local government’s inability to provide well-paved roads and proper garbage disposal.
The road leading to the famous Cloud 9 waves at Barangay Catangnan in the town of General Luna are not yet cemented despite repeated promises from local politicians, according to Siargao native and resort owner Welia Alipayo-Archibald.
“Surfing has given businesses and jobs to local people but it seems the priorities of the local government are misplaced because of the rough road going here to Cloud 9.”
“I remember one time, a surfer fell from his motorbike on the way here, saying that is the worst road he has seen,” says Welia.
During the rainy season, traveling to General Luna can be very difficult because the road is slippery. Potholes get filled with water and can cause serious accidents, according to habal-habal or motorbike drivers.
Habal-habals are the common mode of transport in the island since these can navigate roads better than larger vehicles.
Traveling at night is extra dangerous because there are no road lights available. You would be lucky to drive near the estuary or mangrove area halfway through the resorts as light from the houses lit the area somehow, according to Australian surfer Mike Archibald, husband of Welia.
“Surfers don’t complain much of the conditions but considering that here we have the surfing capital, it seems the local government does not care about the people and how a concrete road would help boost tourism and ease of travel into the area,” says Mike.
Three years ago, Mike supervised the improvement of a portion of the road going to local resorts and to stop the erosion at the estuary with thinning mangroves.
But, according to him, they can only do so much.
Welia and Mike said the garbage collection and disposal in the area is also a problem.
The previous municipal mayor collected P300 monthly payments for garbage collection from resort owners and locals but not even a single truck arrived to collect trash.
The current mayor collects P800 per quarter to collect the garbage and dispose them on a vacant lot in the area, says Welia.
Welia adds they are trying as much as they can to recycle and reduce the resort’s garbage and to collect food and organic wastes for households that raise pigs in their backyards. But a proper waste segregation scheme and disposal is urgently needed.
Robert Constant, a tourist who frequents the area, said a proper waste disposal program is needed. Plastic is still thrown in a landfill located near houses.
He admits surfers find it an eyesore to see the garbage landfill on their way to Siargao’s waves. Plans to relocate the landfill to another area are yet to be seen by locals, says Welia.
“If unsustainable practices of garbage disposal continue for the next 10 to 20 years, it would pose problems to the local water supply and health risks to people here,” Constant said.
Residents are also clamoring for a town hospital. There is a barangay healthcare center but those who suffer from more serious injuries have to be brought to the town of Dapa for treatment, or take a ferry going to the mainland in Surigao del Norte.
Luckily, most surfers only get scratches but those who get injured from riding the habal-habal during rainy season are not as lucky.
“I hope the local government would start realizing the need for basic infrastructures so that we will know where our taxes go. It will benefit the locals and open up more tourism opportunities, which in turn help boost the local economy,” says Welia.
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The local government lacks interest in giving minimum effort on improving the roads. Siargao tourism has been greatly penalize by this because tourist are shying away and has even thought of not coming back to the island for this matter. And surely, it won’t take long to damage the natural environment since there’s no proper garbage disposal system. Siargao is way too far from becoming as the Philippines top distination if this is the case. I hope they’ll do something about it because tourism brings income to the island!