Members of caving clubs and speleological societies from all over the country, and from Australia, United States, New Zealand, Hongkong, Great Britain and Japan packed up their gear and went to the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Samar last May 11-15, 2009 for the Philippine Speleological Society Cave Congress 2009 (9th National Caving Congress).
The event, carrying the theme, “Finding the Balance between Conservation and Tourism”, was formally opened at the University of the Philippines – Tacloban with DOT Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano welcoming the delegates for this year’s congress.
Three international speakers graced this year’s National Caving Congress. They were Professor Elery Hamilton Smith, chairman of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the World Commission on Protected Areas, Mr. Pete Chandler, owner of Spellbound Caving Tours in New Zealand; and Mr. Dave Smith of the Department of Conservation in New Zealand.
Also, local speakers from the University of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, DOT, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Museum, and PCGA shared their insights and knowledge on cave preservations.
For more information about the event contact the PCGA at (053) 523-762 or email psscavecongress09@yahoo.com
Hosted by Philippine Cave Guides Association Inc. (PCGA), together with Nature Unlimited - Leyte Outdoor Club Inc. (NULOC), Department of Tourism (DOT), Provincial Government of Leyte and Samar, and the Municipal Government of Basey Samar, the event aims to enhance the technical capability of the participants to be able to conduct a safe and more thorough cave assessment. In addition, it aims to come up with a policy recommendation for a more streamlined and dynamic cave management program that would take into consideration the connection between conservation and tourism. The congress is also a show of support for a stronger implementation of Republic Act 9072, known as the Caves and Cave Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
The event, carrying the theme, “Finding the Balance between Conservation and Tourism”, was formally opened at the University of the Philippines – Tacloban with DOT Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano welcoming the delegates for this year’s congress.
Three international speakers graced this year’s National Caving Congress. They were Professor Elery Hamilton Smith, chairman of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the World Commission on Protected Areas, Mr. Pete Chandler, owner of Spellbound Caving Tours in New Zealand; and Mr. Dave Smith of the Department of Conservation in New Zealand.
Also, local speakers from the University of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, DOT, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Museum, and PCGA shared their insights and knowledge on cave preservations.
For more information about the event contact the PCGA at (053) 523-762 or email psscavecongress09@yahoo.com
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