SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will host the 2024 Central Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit (CLSTS) on September 11 and 12 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) in collaboration with the Department of Tourism Region 3.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said the two-day event themed “Towards a Carbon Neutral Future: Central Luzon’s Commitment to Sustainable Tourism” is aimed at raising awareness of the current environment issues.

“This year’s event promises to share more insights on how tourists can help Mother Earth through first-hand sustainability efforts that have been conducted inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” Aliño said.

The activity is open to all tourism officers and stakeholders from Central Luzon; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the tourism sector, who are focused on the preservation of the environment; and members of the academe.

The first day of the summit will see Aliño, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Director Ralph Pablo, Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr., and DOT3 Regional Director Richard G. Daenos talking about sustainable tourism and love for the environment, with the keynote speech coming from Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.

Highlighting the first day of the conference will be the SBMA’s launching of the “Race to Carbon Neutrality” to be led by Aliño and Ecology Center Chief Amethya Dela Llana-Koval. This will be followed by a discussion on the Strategies for Carbon Neutral Tourism Enterprises by Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Research Fellow John Paolo Rivera.

For the afternoon session, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Committee for Monuments and Sites former Vice Chairman Arch. Jayson Portem will discuss “Cultural Preservation as a Pillar of Sustainable Tourism.”  

Meanwhile, the second day will focus on the “Role of Technology in Achieving Net Zero Carbon in Tourism Destinations” with Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NZCA) Executive Director Allan Barcena as the focal person, and “Traveling Sustainably: Tips and Tools for Eco-Friendly Tourism.”

Other topics will be “Harnessing the Power of Sports for Environmental Stewardship in Coastal Communities” with Alon and Araw Club owner Donn Lawrence Quintos, followed by “Sustainable Transportation Solutions for Tourists” presentation.

The two-day event will feature eco-tours of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and its contingent localities, including birdwatching at Nabasan Area; tree planting at the SBMA Ecology Mangrove Nursery; and trips to the El Kabayo Waterfalls, Pamulaklakin Aeta Forest Trail, the Green Building of Pacific Ace, Adventure Cove, Alon and Araw Club in Cabangan, Pinatubo Brewery in San Marcelino, and Dela Llana Farm in Castillejos.

Aliño highly encourages stakeholders to come and participate in the two-day event as this is the biggest ecotourism summit to be held in Central Luzon. The CLSTS is part of a series of activities that was organized in partnership with the Department of Tourism to celebrate National Tourism Month. 