Go Local, Identify Community and Household Assets

In Baclayon, Bohol, this mantra has meant producing a comprehensive ecotourism plan based first on collective efforts to identify existing livelihood activities, skills and crafts and agreeing on how to put them to greater use.
A total of around 200 people representing various sectors in each of the 17 barangays went through this process facilitated by the Municipal Tourism Officer, Emily Pedersen. Their output is the 109-page Baclayon Community-Based Eco-Cultural Tourism Plan 2012-2016. It is considered the most comprehensive ECT Plan produced in the province.
The key sections, after the brief introduction and Baclayon overview, are as follows:

• Municipal Tourism Profile
• Visitors/Tourists Profile
• Community Participation Strategy
• Brief Project Profiles

Of interest to many are the following 9 priority projects:

• Caving Tours
• Dasitam Rice Farming and Tours
• Cultural Bike Tours
• Libertad Campground
• Montaña Performing Arts Group
• Pamilacan Island Dolphin and Whale Watching Booking System Upgrade
• San Isidro Mountain Bike Park
• San Roque Pottery and Handicrafts
• Souvenir Showroom and Livelihood Development Center

The five-year plan has been discussed an endorsed by the Municipal Tourism Council to Mayor Alvin Uy, who subsequently approved it for implementation. The Baclayon Business Enterprises Association (BBEA) has been organized to mobilize private sector support to the plan. LGSP-LED, through Padayon BMT, is providing technical assistance to BBEA during the critical initial stage.
The Bohol Local Development Foundation (BLDF) collaborates with the MTO for systematic provision of
assistance to enable local communities to implement the priority projects.