ILOILO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has welcomed a law designating Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo as a wildlife sanctuary.
“Many tourists both local and international have been visiting Sicogon Island since the 1970s. This is welcome for the needed protection and managing the flora and fauna population that are native and distinct in the island,” said DENR-Region 6 (Western Visayas) Director Livino Duran.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11933 or the Sicogon Island Wildlife Sanctuary Act lapsed into law last July 30.
The law emanating from the bills sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Villar and Iloilo Rep. Raul Tupas included Sicogon Island in the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
“With this, the DENR-6 and other stakeholders are now given assurance of the conservation, protection, management, and rehabilitation of the Sicogon Island Wildlife Sanctuary,” Duran added.
The law covers funding for the protection of 283 more hectares in the 1,160-hectare island.
The Sicogon Island Tourism Estate Corp. (SITE), a joint venture between Ayala Land Inc. and land owner Sicogon Development Corp. (SIDECO), has been redeveloping 300 hectares for the past several years to bring back the island’s tourism glory.
Sicogon Island is a popular resort island that preceded Boracay Island as the country’s premier beach destination in the 1970s and 1980s.