The recently concluded Central Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit, held at the Subic Bay Convention Center on September 11 and 12, brought together experts and industry leaders to discuss the future of sustainable tourism in the region. Organized with support from NLEX Corporation, the summit focused on the latest efforts toward greener tourism and regional economic development.
One of the summit’s highlights was the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announcement, which committed to making the Subic Bay Freeport a carbon-neutral zone by 2030. In her keynote speech, Amethya Del Llana Koval, SBMA’s senior deputy administrator, detailed the decarbonization roadmap, emphasizing the critical role of businesses and locators within the Freeport zone in achieving this ambitious target.
Koval stressed that the SBMA’s initiative would require a collective effort. The authority plans to conduct carbon audits across key sectors, including industrial, tourism, transportation, residential, and commercial. These audits will guide the formulation of net-zero building strategies, such as enhancing energy efficiency, upgrading systems, and integrating renewable energy sources.
Koval also underscored the importance of incentivizing businesses in the Freeport to adopt sustainable practices, such as deploying electric vehicles and utilizing energy-efficient technologies. With over 1,800 locators, $11.54 billion in investments, and nearly 159,000 workers, the Freeport’s transition to carbon neutrality is crucial for both the environment and the economy.
Strategies for carbon-neutral tourism
Another key speaker, Dr. John Paolo Rivera, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, focused on how tourism enterprises can contribute to carbon neutrality. Rivera explained the evolution of sustainable practices from the 1980s to today, highlighting how current approaches like the circular economy and ecological civilization place environmental concerns at the center of business decision-making.
Rivera emphasized the importance of empowering all tourism stakeholders—government, private enterprises, and local communities—to adopt sustainable practices. He pointed out that younger generations, particularly millennials and Gen Z, prefer eco-friendly and nature-based tourism experiences. As tourism businesses adapt to these demands, Rivera suggested that community-based tourism could be a viable solution for promoting sustainability in Central Luzon.
“Sustainability and carbon neutrality cannot be achieved if not everyone is empowered to contribute,” Rivera noted, urging the industry to work together to meet these goals.
Preserving cultural heritage
Another crucial aspect of the summit was the focus on architectural heritage conservation, which was explored by Architect Jayson Portem, a former vice-chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Portems session, titled “Cultural Preservation as a Pillar of Sustainable Tourism,” reiterated the importance of protecting the Philippines’ architectural treasures.
Portem explained that safeguarding these historic structures not only preserves the nation’s cultural identity but also boosts tourism by offering visitors unique, meaningful experiences. However, balancing tourism development with the need to protect historic sites remains a challenge. Urban development and shifting cultural dynamics pose threats to the integrity of these landmarks, and Portem stressed the importance of community involvement in preservation efforts.
“When we invest in preserving our cultural heritage, we are not just protecting bricks and mortar,” he said. “We are safeguarding the stories, the traditions, and the very essence of who we are as a people.”
The Central Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit laid out a clear vision for balancing economic growth with environmental and cultural sustainability. The discussions set the tone for continued efforts in sustainable tourism, with Subic Bay’s decarbonization goals leading the charge for a greener future.
Read more about the summit: NLEX backs Central Luzon’s carbon-neutral tourism efforts