CEBU GOVERNOR Hilario P. Davide III has issued an executive order (EO) creating a joint management committee for the management of the disputed Osmeña Peak as an ecotourism destination. The towns of Badian and Dalaguete will jointly oversee the preservation and operations of the peak, a popular destination for local and foreign visitors. The EO, signed on May 25, recognizes Osmeña Peak as part of Barangay Patong in Badian town, but at the same time acknowledges that Dalaguete is “the only convenient” access to the site through one of its highland barangays, Mantalongon. The EO directs the fair sharing of the tourism revenues between the two towns. Aside from municipal officials, representatives from provincial and national agencies are named part of the committee, including the regional directors of the Department of Environment and Natural resources and the Department of Tourism. “Osmeña Peak as an ecotourism destination is a shared responsibility of the national government, the local governments concerned and other stakeholders, thus, all efforts toward that end must adhere to the guidelines prescribed,” the EO reads. — The Freeman

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