TOURISM POTENTIALS
BULALACAO ORIENTAL MINDORO
EXISTING SITUATION
Bulalacao, the farthest town in Oriental Mindoro has numerous tourism potentials/sites. These are islands, coves and peninsulas and are, in fact, included in the Presidential Proclamation No.1801 declaring them as tourism zones and marine reserves under the administration of the Philippine Tourism Authority. The province of Mindoro is further included in the eight priority areas in under the Tourism Investment Priorities Plan as per LOI 75.
Alibatan, a more or less 5 hectares island located three kilometers northeast of Bacungan and southeast of the town of Bulalacao is noted for its white sand. Big rocks are present throughout and the southeast part is mountainous. A lake, more or less half – hectares can be found at the middle of this island. The place serves as hatching place for seagulls and turtles. Although the area abounds with different species of fish, fishing is dangerous due to the presence of whales because of its nearness to the channel going to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Corals and oysters can be found all around the area. The island is also called “Target Island” because bombing practices in 1964 were made in this place by the Americans staying in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
Sibalat Island is located northwest of Alibatan Island and east of Bating Peninsula. Like Alibatan, Sibalat boats of white sand, big rock corals, shell oysters and an ideal hatching place for turtles. This island measure 21/2 hectares and the surrounding water is suited for fishing and scuba diving. About 11/2 kilometers south of Brgy. Milagrosa lies the 12 hectares Aslom Island, which has the same features with the first two islands. Half of this island is planted to coconuts and good place for ships to anchor during storms. A big cave could be found at the southeast part of the island.
Maasin Island is situated at the southeast part of the Municipality of Bulalacao, and is seven (7) kilometers from the town proper. The middle of this cave – shaped island is planted to coconuts. Others parts are full of cogon and the part facing Tables Strait is mountainous. The island covers 90 hectares. A 30 – meter – fathom deep channel could be found between the island and Tambaron Island.
Tambaron is a 150-hectares rocky, mountainous island separated by a channel from Brgy. Balatasan. This is 40 kilometers from the municipality and a hunting ground for wild pigs and monkeys, the place being full of cogon. It is also ideal for cattle and goat raising. The water around which is 30 meters fathom deep is suited for fishing.
In the northern part of Bulalacao lies Suguicay. A part of Brgy. A channel separates San Juan, this oblong-shaped island. Suguicay is planted to coconuts and mangrove at both ends. This more or less ten-hectare island abounds with corals and different kinds of shells.
Located at the southeast part of Mansalay and the northern of Buyayao Peninsula, some 50 meters away, where a pier was constructed under Minister Elizalde. There is a road constructed on the southern going to the northern part, which is planted to coconuts. Big snakes called “Sobre Kama” are found in “Malaking Yungib” and in mountains. The waters around are suited for deep fishing.
Pocanil is located at the mainland of Buyayao Peninsula, north of Brgy. San Roque. The place is rocky and suited for goat raising. This is a reserve area.
Aside from the mentioned island, Bating Peninsula, Balatasan cone, Apao Island, Buyayao Peninsula, Libago Island, Tambaron Island, Apo Reef and Island are also in the jurisdiction of Bulalacao.
The Marine resource in the vicinity of this island that should be preserved are at present endanger of destruction because of the fishing method called “Muro - Ami” used in the area wherein corals are pounded with rock – weighted lines. This method destroys the coral reef in the area especially in Apo Reef, which is considered as one of the ten (10) best Scuba diving Sites in the world.
Bulalacao, the farthest town in Oriental Mindoro has numerous tourism potentials/sites. These are islands, coves and peninsulas and are, in fact, included in the Presidential Proclamation No.1801 declaring them as tourism zones and marine reserves under the administration of the Philippine Tourism Authority. The province of Mindoro is further included in the eight priority areas in under the Tourism Investment Priorities Plan as per LOI 75.
Alibatan, a more or less 5 hectares island located three kilometers northeast of Bacungan and southeast of the town of Bulalacao is noted for its white sand. Big rocks are present throughout and the southeast part is mountainous. A lake, more or less half – hectares can be found at the middle of this island. The place serves as hatching place for seagulls and turtles. Although the area abounds with different species of fish, fishing is dangerous due to the presence of whales because of its nearness to the channel going to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Corals and oysters can be found all around the area. The island is also called “Target Island” because bombing practices in 1964 were made in this place by the Americans staying in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
Sibalat Island is located northwest of Alibatan Island and east of Bating Peninsula. Like Alibatan, Sibalat boats of white sand, big rock corals, shell oysters and an ideal hatching place for turtles. This island measure 21/2 hectares and the surrounding water is suited for fishing and scuba diving. About 11/2 kilometers south of Brgy. Milagrosa lies the 12 hectares Aslom Island, which has the same features with the first two islands. Half of this island is planted to coconuts and good place for ships to anchor during storms. A big cave could be found at the southeast part of the island.
Maasin Island is situated at the southeast part of the Municipality of Bulalacao, and is seven (7) kilometers from the town proper. The middle of this cave – shaped island is planted to coconuts. Others parts are full of cogon and the part facing Tables Strait is mountainous. The island covers 90 hectares. A 30 – meter – fathom deep channel could be found between the island and Tambaron Island.
Tambaron is a 150-hectares rocky, mountainous island separated by a channel from Brgy. Balatasan. This is 40 kilometers from the municipality and a hunting ground for wild pigs and monkeys, the place being full of cogon. It is also ideal for cattle and goat raising. The water around which is 30 meters fathom deep is suited for fishing.
In the northern part of Bulalacao lies Suguicay. A part of Brgy. A channel separates San Juan, this oblong-shaped island. Suguicay is planted to coconuts and mangrove at both ends. This more or less ten-hectare island abounds with corals and different kinds of shells.
Located at the southeast part of Mansalay and the northern of Buyayao Peninsula, some 50 meters away, where a pier was constructed under Minister Elizalde. There is a road constructed on the southern going to the northern part, which is planted to coconuts. Big snakes called “Sobre Kama” are found in “Malaking Yungib” and in mountains. The waters around are suited for deep fishing.
Pocanil is located at the mainland of Buyayao Peninsula, north of Brgy. San Roque. The place is rocky and suited for goat raising. This is a reserve area.
Aside from the mentioned island, Bating Peninsula, Balatasan cone, Apao Island, Buyayao Peninsula, Libago Island, Tambaron Island, Apo Reef and Island are also in the jurisdiction of Bulalacao.
The Marine resource in the vicinity of this island that should be preserved are at present endanger of destruction because of the fishing method called “Muro - Ami” used in the area wherein corals are pounded with rock – weighted lines. This method destroys the coral reef in the area especially in Apo Reef, which is considered as one of the ten (10) best Scuba diving Sites in the world.
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