𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺, 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday, September 8, presented at the inaugural Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Parks (AHP) Forum, organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led by Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna.

Speaking on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay reaffirmed the DOT’s commitment to building a sustainable tourism industry that drives regional development and strengthens ecological conservation across the country’s protected areas.

The Tourism Chief also highlighted DOT’s ongoing initiatives to champion biodiversity conservation alongside sustainable tourism development, including the Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC).

Currently, there are 69 designated AHPs are across the ASEAN region, covering about 11.9 million hectares of protected areas. Fourteen of these are located in the Philippines.

The Philippines’ Mount Balatukan Range Natural Park in Misamis Oriental is close to becoming the 70th ASEAN Heritage Park and is currently up for “ad referendum approval” by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment.

The other AHPs in the Philippines include Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mts. Iglit–Baco Natural Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Mts. Timpoong– Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Pasonanca Natural Park, Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park, the Apo Reef Natural Park, Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, and Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary.

The three-day forum held in partnership with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), provides a platform for learning, collaboration, and innovation among AHP managers, community leaders, policymakers, and development partners, supporting the integration of the AHP Program into the broader goals of the Philippine ASEAN Chairship.