Skip to main content

FROM FISHERS TO BIRDERS: THE BOJO RIVER STORY

Feb 29, 2024

The municipality of Aloguinsan, Province of Cebu, Philippines is a 3rd class municipality which is located at the remote place in southwest part of the province. It consists of 15 Barangays with 3 coastal areas, and one of it is Barangay Bojo where the hidden beauty of Bojo River lies.

The main livelihood of the locals are fishing, farming and being a laborer. It’s disheartening that dissatisfaction and ignorance of the law can sometimes lead to illegal practices like fishing and farming. The Local Government Unit ( LGU) of Aloguinsan find a sustainable and legal alternatives that could help preserve the environment and promote responsible practices in the community like “sustainable tourism”.

In 2009, the LGU of Aloguinsan conducted various training workshops and seminars for fishermen, farmers and housewives about ecotourism and sustainable tourism. After 4 months of undergoing the different trainings, the BOJO ALOGUINSAN ECOTOURISM ASSOCIATION ( BAETAS )  was organized and launched the Bojo River Eco-Cultural Tour on June 14, 2009  to the tourists which aims at preserving and protecting the 1.4 km river where 24 species of mangroves, 61 species of birds live,  the different species of corals in the Tañon Strait, conserve local culture and tradition, promote the town and having sustainable livelihood.

Not long after opening to the public, it captivated the interest of both local and international tourists. From 2009 up to 2022 the tourist arrival reached up to 300,000 which earns a total receipts of 39.5 million pesos, 896,000 pesos for community projects, have help 4,000 families and invested 3 million pesos for the infrastructure.

BAETAS implemented different projects and programs that can help the local people such as conducting medical mission, feeding program, giving assistance to the elderly, giving school supplies and funding scholarship program. Additionally, BAETAS is implementing a program for mangrove rehabilitation and reforestation, along with monthly river and coastal clean-ups.

In 2015 up to present the Bojo River received 4 National awards and 6 International Awards such as:

  • UNEP PATA INSPIRE AWARD Philippines, 2015, ASEAN AWARD Singapore, 2017,
  • 2016 GLOBAL TOP 100 SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION AWARD Slovenia, September 2016,
  • 2017 GLOBAL TOP 100 SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION AWARD Portugal, September 2017,
  • 2018 GLOBAL TOP 100 SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION AWARD Germany, September 2018,
  • 2021 BEST ECOTOURSIM VILLAGES, December 2021, and
  • LOCAL TOURISM AWARD AT 31ST SKAL INTERNATIONAL MAKATI TOURISM AWARDS ON OCTOBER 26, 2023, Philippines.
  • LOCAL TOURISM AWARD AT 31ST SKAL INTERNATIONAL MAKATI TOURISM AWARDS ON OCTOBER 26, 2023, Philippines.

Fortuitously, numerous opportunities have arrived in our association. We partnered with different travel agencies and government agencies providing fundings. Additionally, we successfully collaborated with various. universities. Recently, we have a new partnership with Erasmus+  project through “ECOVIP. This project can help our association  broaden our campaign about responsible travel, not only in local market but also in the international market.

As the United Nations created the Sustainable Development Goals, this project answers some of the SDG’s such as “No to Poverty, this project helps the local community to have an alternative income that help them in financial problem; Good Health and well-being” one of objective of this project is to preserve and protect the environment where it can lead to clean and fresh air as well as healthy environment; “Gender equality” that is project treat men and women equally because some the paddlers guide are women; “ To provide decent work for local people and improve the economic growth of the town by providing livelihood for fishermen, farmers and housewives. The association contributes the local government around 5 million since the project started in 2009.

Women welcome the guests with local song.

Fishermen as local interpreter

Today, Bojo River plays a significant role in our town, contributing in our economy through tourism, bringing fame to our town, providing livelihoods for our members and being recognized as one of  the ecotourism destinations in the  Philippines.

Comments

rawizfa (not verified) Sun, 09/28/2025 - 04:37
Harness unbeatable savings on men's health boosters; find the [URL=https://ifcuriousthenlearn.com/item/retin-a-from-india/ - drugs retin-a[/URL - , your key to enhanced vigor. To increase your endurance, consider lasix cost as a trustworthy solution. When seeking immediate options, locate https://lasvegas-nightclubs.com/item/cytotec/ for your requirements. Venturing into the realm of digital pharmacies enables you to acquire essential medications conveniently. Whether you require immediate access to anti-inflammatory solutions, [URL=https://primerafootandankle.com/pill/where-to-buy-propecia/ - where to buy propecia[/URL - emerges as your go-to hub for hassle-free purchases.

ejortabaojuga (not verified) Sun, 09/28/2025 - 04:41
Boost your health today! Acquire your [URL=https://mrcpromotions.com/prednisone-online/ - prednisone[/URL - quickly. This crucial treatment is just a click away. Venture into the world of affordable healthcare solutions and explore how you can buy canadian pharmacy pilex to manage your health needs online. Your search for a reliable source to acquire Duprost ends here. https://breathejphotography.com/lady-era/ for an easy, hassle-free experience and take the first step towards managing your health better.

iiqisezeq (not verified) Sun, 09/28/2025 - 04:42
Nourish your vitality effortlessly with [URL=https://primerafootandankle.com/lasix-100mg/ - lasix pille[/URL - , a zenith of wellness. Obtain this potent blend with ease. Get budget-friendly treatments for your health needs. Find generic for tofranil to manage your conditions effortlessly. A plethora of alternatives awaits for those seeking to boost their health with quality injections. Find your ideal solution at https://hyblavalleyvet.com/kamagra/ , where preeminence in healthcare products is always a priority. Research the market for affordable solutions and uncover the [URL=https://myrsvplive.com/item/cipro/ - cipro generic pills[/URL - to improve your health affordability.

oikehojaxaspa (not verified) Sun, 09/28/2025 - 04:43
Join our community to obtain your [URL=https://skywaycorvetteclub.com/item/propecia/ - propecia without dr prescription[/URL - and explore a wide variety for reproductive health options. Questioning where to purchase finasteride? Discover safe, reliable options for buy finasteride online . Having realized an improvement in their performance, many are turning towards https://nikonphotorecovery.com/where-to-buy-amoxil-online/ for a dependable solution. Research indicates that [URL=https://primerafootandankle.com/lasix-100mg/ - lasix 100mg[/URL - can significantly improve cardiovascular health. Patients seeking management for hypertension may find relief from incorporating these tablets into their routine.

edikuqob (not verified) Sun, 09/28/2025 - 04:48
People seeking cost-effective options for stroke and heart attack prevention can discover the [URL=https://phovillages.com/prednisone-commercial/ - prednisone 40mg[/URL - when they search internet-based drugstores. Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a challenging condition, but with modern therapies, managing it has become easier. Look into cialis without dr prescription usa , a budget-friendly and trustworthy option for enhancing your performance. Uncover affordable treatment for scabies with our cost-effective https://gabitzasgreenkitchen.com/viagra/ , the number one choice for eliminating pests. Visit [URL=https://phovillages.com/cialis-5mg/ - generic cialis lowest[/URL - to secure your prescription easily.

Add new comment