Environmental and Ethical Travel
-Philippines-
“Malasakit sa kalikasan,” - (CARE FOR NATURE)
Sustainable Travel Practices: Reducing Your Environmental Impact
Traveling sustainably in the Philippines can help preserve its natural beauty, support local communities, and reduce your environmental impact. Here’s how you can make eco-conscious choices when exploring this island nation:
Minimizing Waste & Practicing Eco-Friendly Habits:
Say No to Single-Use Plastics: The Philippines has a significant plastic waste problem, so reduce your plastic consumption by bringing reusable items like a water bottle, shopping bag, and utensils. Many hotels, hostels, and cafes offer water refill stations, making it easy to avoid buying bottled water.
Opt for Reusable Toiletries & Zero-Waste Products: Bring solid toiletries like shampoo bars, soaps, and toothpaste tablets to minimize plastic packaging. Carry bamboo utensils, straws, and a cloth napkin to cut down on disposable waste when eating out.
Recycle & Dispose of Waste Properly: Waste management varies across the Philippines, so find recycling bins when possible and dispose of trash responsibly. Avoid littering and pack out any waste when exploring nature reserves, beaches, and islands to maintain clean and pristine environments.
Conserving Water & Reducing Energy Use:
Be Conscious of Water Use: With many islands experiencing water shortages, conserve water by taking shorter showers, reusing towels, and turning off the tap when brushing your teeth. Some areas have limited access to clean water, so be mindful when washing and avoid unnecessary water consumption.
Save Energy in Your Accommodation: Turn off lights, fans, and air conditioning when not in use. Stay in eco-friendly accommodations that have solar power, energy-efficient appliances, or policies for reducing energy consumption. Check if your accommodation uses keycards to control room power, which automatically turns off electricity when you leave.
Supporting Eco-Friendly Accommodations & Activities:
Choose Sustainable Accommodations: Look for eco-friendly hotels, hostels, or resorts that have environmental policies in place, like using renewable energy, conserving water, and reducing plastic waste. Eco-lodges, homestays, and beachside bungalows made from sustainable materials are great options across places like Palawan, Siargao, and Bohol.
Engage in Responsible Activities: Participate in activities that prioritize sustainability and conservation. For example, take part in coral reef rehabilitation projects, mangrove planting, or beach clean-ups, which support local conservation efforts. Opt for tours with a focus on low-impact activities like snorkeling, diving with eco-certified operators, and hiking.
Eco-Friendly Transportation Tips:
Opt for Public Transit & Local Transport: Utilize the Philippines’ local transportation like jeepneys (colorful shared taxis), tricycles, and buses to reduce your carbon footprint. In major cities like Manila and Cebu, try using public buses or the metro system. In smaller towns, walking or renting a bicycle is not only more sustainable but also allows you to see more of the area.
Choose Ferries Over Flights for Island Hopping: The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands, so domestic travel is common. To minimize your environmental impact, choose ferries or boats for inter-island travel when possible. While flights are quicker, ferries are a more sustainable option for traveling between popular destinations like Cebu to Bohol, Manila to Mindoro, or El Nido to Coron.
Rent Electric or Fuel-Efficient Scooters: If you prefer to explore on your own, rent a fuel-efficient motorbike or an electric scooter to cut down on emissions. This is an ideal way to explore smaller islands like Siargao or Camiguin, where roads are narrow and nature is best seen up close.
Engaging in Eco-Conscious Activities & Supporting Local Initiatives:
Participate in Community-Based Tourism: Experience the Philippines' rich culture by staying with local families in rural villages, participating in farm-to-table experiences, or learning traditional crafts from artisans. Look for community-based tourism projects that support locals and provide immersive cultural experiences.
Support Responsible Wildlife Tourism: Be mindful of how tourism affects local wildlife and choose experiences that promote conservation. Avoid attractions that involve wildlife captivity, like dolphin or whale shark encounters that don’t follow ethical guidelines. For a more responsible wildlife experience, consider visiting ethical sanctuaries or observing animals in their natural habitats without disrupting them.
Buy Local & Eco-Friendly Products: Support local farmers, artisans, and small businesses by shopping at local markets, dining at farm-to-table restaurants, and purchasing handcrafted souvenirs. Choose eco-friendly products made from sustainable materials, such as woven bags, bamboo products, or coconut-based goods, and avoid items made from endangered species, shells, or corals.
Ethical Considerations: Responsible & Respectful Travel
Traveling ethically in the Philippines means being mindful of how your actions impact local communities, traditions, and the environment. By making conscious choices, you can support sustainable tourism, preserve local cultures, and reduce any negative effects on the environment. Here's how to travel ethically and responsibly:
Respecting Local Cultures & Traditions:
Learn & Respect Cultural Etiquette: The Filipino people value respect, kindness, and humility. Understanding cultural norms will help you connect with locals more meaningfully. Show respect by using polite greetings, such as "po" and "opo" (added to words to show respect to elders), and follow local customs in rural communities.
Respect Religious Sites & Traditions: The Philippines is predominantly Christian, with a significant Catholic population. When visiting churches or religious sites, dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees. Always ask for permission before taking photos of religious ceremonies or worshippers, and be respectful during local festivals or processions, such as Sinulog in Cebu or Ati-Atihan in Aklan.
Engage in Genuine Cultural Exchanges: When interacting with locals, be open to learning about their traditions, way of life, and beliefs. This means asking questions with curiosity, being patient, and respecting differences in customs, lifestyle, or practices. Approach cultural experiences like cooking classes, dance performances, or traditional crafts as a way to learn and support the community.
Supporting Local Businesses & Fair-Trade Practices:
Shop at Local Markets & Buy Ethically Made Products: Support local artisans and businesses by buying handmade crafts, clothing, and food at local markets or cooperatives. Look for fair-trade products, such as woven textiles, wooden carvings, and jewelry made from sustainable materials. Avoid purchasing items made from endangered species, shells, or coral to ensure that your purchase doesn’t contribute to environmental harm.
Dine at Family-Owned Eateries & Try Local Cuisine: To support local livelihoods, choose to eat at family-run eateries, called carinderias, which serve authentic Filipino dishes like adobo, sinigang, and lechon (roast pig). Enjoying street food like balut (fertilized duck egg), taho (sweet tofu snack), and lumpia (spring rolls) not only supports small vendors but also offers an authentic taste of the Philippines.
Stay in Locally Owned Accommodations: Opt for accommodations that are locally owned or community-run, such as homestays, eco-lodges, or small guesthouses. Staying with locals can provide a more authentic experience and ensure that the money you spend stays within the community. Look for accommodations that also have sustainable practices in place, like using local materials or employing locals.
Minimizing Environmental Impact & Promoting Sustainable Tourism:
Respect Nature & Wildlife: The Philippines is home to rich biodiversity and stunning natural landscapes, from coral reefs to tropical forests. When hiking, snorkeling, or diving, respect local wildlife by not disturbing animals, feeding fish, or touching coral. Stick to marked trails in nature reserves and parks, and follow guidelines to protect the environment.
Choose Responsible Tour Operators: When booking tours or excursions, research and choose companies that prioritize sustainability, community involvement, and ethical practices. Look for operators that are transparent about their conservation efforts, environmental impact, and how they give back to local communities.
Avoid Wildlife Exploitation & Harmful Attractions: While activities like swimming with whale sharks in Oslob or riding carabaos (water buffalos) might seem exciting, they can often be harmful to the animals involved. Ethical wildlife experiences should allow animals to live freely in their natural habitat without human interference. Be cautious of zoos, animal shows, and marine parks that involve wildlife captivity or performance-based attractions.
Understanding the Effects of Tourism on Local Communities & Environments:
Be Aware of Over-Tourism & Its Impact: Some destinations in the Philippines, like Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao, have faced challenges due to over-tourism, including environmental degradation, waste issues, and disruption to local communities. To travel responsibly, visit lesser-known islands and towns to spread the economic benefits of tourism while reducing pressure on over-visited areas.
Spend Consciously & Spread the Benefits of Tourism: Supporting local businesses, artisans, and experiences helps ensure your money directly benefits the people you interact with. Opt for small, family-run tours, community-based projects, and workshops that uplift local livelihoods and contribute to the preservation of culture and tradition.
Respect Local Communities & Their Privacy: While it’s tempting to take photos of everything you see, always ask for permission before photographing people, particularly children or those in traditional attire. Be mindful of how you engage with local communities, ensuring your presence is respectful and not intrusive. Remember that you are a visitor in their home, so treat local spaces with care.
Avoiding Harmful Practices & Making Ethical Travel Choices:
Avoid Exploitative Practices & Human Exploitation: Unfortunately, some tourism activities can exploit vulnerable communities, such as slum tourism, where travelers pay to tour impoverished areas, or “voluntourism” where visitors work with children in orphanages, which can lead to ethical concerns about child exploitation. Research activities before participating to ensure that they benefit communities rather than exploit them.
Participate in Authentic & Sustainable Experiences: Seek out community-based tourism experiences that allow you to learn about local culture while supporting livelihoods. Consider spending a night in a traditional village, learning about rice farming, or participating in workshops that teach local crafts like basket weaving or traditional dance. These experiences offer a respectful and educational way to connect with Filipino culture.