Potentials for Ecotourism Development of Tikub Lake: The Obscure Small Lake of Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines

Potentials for Ecotourism Development of Tikub Lake: 

The Obscure Small Lake of Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines

Nico Jayson C. Anastacio and Bing Baltazar C. Brillo 

College of Public Affairs and Development

University of the Philippines Los Ban͂os

bcbrillo@up.edu.ph

This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an article published in the Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution.

Cite as: Anastacio, N.J. & Brillo, B.B. (2020). The Potentials for Ecotourism Development of Tikub Lake: The Obscure Small Lake of Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 53-58. DOI: 10.3233/AJW200051

Abstract

The Philippines is fortunate to have an abundance of small lakes with excellent natural potentials for developing ecotourism. So far, the small lakes are hardly prioritised for ecotourism development, as many are undeveloped, arbitrarily governed and ecologically threatened. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of baseline information, the absence of basic management/development plan, and scarcity of scholarly works— little is known or written about small lakes in the country. Against this backdrop, the study explores the potentials for ecotourism development of Tikub Lake, a small lake in the Municipality of Tiaong, Quezon Province. The article illustrates the following: The small lake is locally accessible and easily reachable from the major urban population centres. It has a relatively superior water condition and has impressive physical features and biodiversity. It has a promising market demand following the trajectory of nature-based tourism locally and nationally. It has rudimentary arrangements and ordinances to get set ecotourism and a committed local government. It is expected to contribute to the municipality’s tourism industry and economy. It is well-accepted and supported by the locals. On the whole, ecotourism development is a feasible alternative for encouraging countryside economic expansion and for sustainably managing a small lake.

Keywords

Ecotourism Development, Lake, Quezon Province, Philippines, 

Tikub Lake (or Tikob, Ticob, Ticub Lake)

1. INTRODUCTION

Tourism is an important sector of the Philippine economy, being a stable source of foreign exchange earnings, revenue, and employment for the country in recent years. Since 2015, the tourism industry’s contribution to the domestic economy has been continuously growing, registering 10.1, 10.7, 12.2 and 12.7 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively (PSO 2019, PSO 2018, PSO 2017, PSO 2016). In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the World Travel & Tourism Council has posted significant increases in the contribution to GDP, employment and investments for the Philippines (WTTC 2019, WTTC 2018, WTTC 2017). Among tourism product portfolio of the Philippines, ecotourism, specifically sustainable tourism of cultural heritage and natural resources, has become the lynchpin of the tourism development efforts of the national government. This preferment has to do with the fact that ecotourism accounts for more than 50 percent of international tourist arrivals and is expected to grow most quickly over the next decade (NESC-ETWG 2014). Also, the precedence of ecotourism is due to the assimilation of sustainable development and inclusive growth’s principles in the tourism development strategy as well as the inherent comparative advantage being endowed with an abundance of natural and cultural heritage assets in the Philippines. As a concept, ecotourism evolved into a development program of the country in the early 1990s and was institutionalised into a national strategy for promoting socio-economic development via Republic Act (RA) 9593 or Tourism Act of 2009. 

The Philippine nature and culture tourism under the headship of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have announced unprecedented growth in the last decade. Recently, DOT-DENR has prioritised the development and enhancement of nature-based tourism in the 2013-2022 National Ecotourism Strategy of the country (DOT 2018, NESC-ETWG 2014). This decision has to do with the ecotourism’s robust outlook in the years to come, and the reality that there are still a lot of untapped potentials and challenges in its development (e.g., Brillo 2020, Brillo et al. 2017, Brillo 2016b, Bagadion & Juan 2015, Roxas 2014, DOT 2012, DOT 2011, Alampay 2005, Guerrero 2000, Libosada 1998). For one, many of the Philippines’ vast natural assets and resources remain underdeveloped or under-utilised. This is especially on small lakes, being numerous in the country, and many are an excellent prospect for ecotourism development (e.g., Brillo 2016c, Brillo 2017a).

Among the estimated 200 existing lakes in the Philippines, around 90 percent are small lakes, and the majority are still to be developed for ecotourism. Except for a few (e.g., Pandin Lake, Bulusan Lake, Pinatubo Lake), small lakes are scarcely prioritised and fully-established for ecotourism. Many small lakes have no coordinated national program to promote ecotourism development. Numerous small lakes have less baseline information or management-development plan, and some are ecologically threatened and arbitrarily governed (e.g., Brillo 2016a, Brillo 2016d, GNF 2014, LLDA 2014, Aralar et al. 2013, Fernandez 2011, Aralar et al. 2005). Also, the existing literature has insufficient information on small lakes— little is known or written about them (Brillo 2015, see also Downing et al. 2006, Downing 2010). Overall, these show the reason why small lakes need to study and evaluate their potential for ecotourism development.

This study looks into Tikub Lake, an underdeveloped small lake located in the Municipality of Tiaong, Quezon. Specifically, the article explores the prospects for ecotourism development of the small lake. Tikub Lake has been earmarked by the Municipal Government for ecotourism development since the early 2000s and elevated by the current administration as its flagship tourism project. Yet, the development of the small lake remains in the initial phase at present. Tikub Lake still has to have a basic tourism development plan, be promoted as a tourism destination and is largely unknown beyond its municipality and in scholarly literature.

2. THE FRAMEWORK OF ANALYSIS

This study utilises a case study design in assessing the ecotourism development’s potentials of Tikub Lake. The data are generated from key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and documentary sources (e.g., municipal ordinances and DENR’s memorandums/reports). The results and discussion is analysed from the framework: firstly, a backgrounder on the status of Tikub Lake; secondly, an evaluation of the potentials for ecotourism development in the small lake; thirdly, a discussion of the facilitating and impeding factors in developing ecotourism; and lastly, the conclusion and implications. These features are in line with qualitative research that is rudimentary in exploring the prospective for ecotourism development of the small lake. The framework is in harmony with the relativism or constructivism perspective which intends to understand the specific context (rather than aiming a “universal law”) (e.g., Crotty 2004, also see Summer & Tribe 2008). In other words, the ecotourism development of the small lake offers a distinct experience in explaining the particular circumstances (e.g., see Brillo 2014, Brillo 2010).

On the whole, the study intends to: ameliorate the gap in the literature by advancing the scholarly works on small lakes in the country, situate Tikub Lake into the ecotourism development debate, and serve as inputs for the Municipal Government of Tiaong and its locals in decision-making and policy formulation. The term small lake is defined in the study as an inland body of water that is permanent in nature (not intermittent) with a surface area of at least one hectare but not more than 200 hectares (see Brillo 2015). The concept of ecotourism development is loosely defined as a tourism-oriented undertaking in the small lake designed to bring socio-economic improvements to the locals while ensuring the sustainability of the inland water resource (e.g., see UNWTO 2013, UNEP-WTO 2005). 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 A Backgrounder on the Status of Tikub Lake

Tikub Lake is a small freshwater lake located in Barangay Ayusan 1 and Barangay San Pedro in the Municipality of Tiaong, Quezon (see Figure 1). About a third of the lake is located in Barangay San Pedro, and the remaining two-thirds (southern part of the lake) is within Barangay Ayusan 1. It also lies along with the Laguna Volcanic Field that is situated between Mount Banahaw-San Cristobal volcano complex and Mount Malepunyo range. Tikub Lake has steep circumferential slopes and is circular-shaped with a surface area of 48.34 hectares (Labatos and Briones 2014). Since the small lake has no water outlets or inlets, it replenishes by rainfall and surface runoff and discharges by seepage and evaporation. In the past, the small lake was primarily utilised for aquaculture, specifically tilapia cage farming. Since its introduction in the 1990s, tilapia cage farming gradually expanded in the lake, reaching the peak in the mid-2000s. But after a major fishkill in 2008 (caused by the natural upwelling) which caused significant losses to fish farmer operators, aquaculture steadily decreases onwards. This decline was also abetted by the common agreement among the locals to limit the fish farm operators in the lake to only residents of the Municipality of Tiaong.

The ecotourism initiative in Tikub Lake evolved in the early 2000s when the Municipal Government earmarked the small lake for tourism development, marking the shift in development efforts from aquaculture to ecotourism. The two succeeding local government administrations also embraced the same ecotourism plan for Tikub Lake. Ecotourism development was institutionalised when the Municipal Government adopted a vision of making Tikub Lake a major tourist destination in Southern Tagalog Region. In step with this, the local government in 2010 imposed a moratorium allowing only the existing 83 fish cages to operate in the small lake, and in 2015 suspended the issuance of permits for application of additional fish cages in the small lake. In 2013, the Municipal Government formalised the ecotourism project via Municipal Ordinance 2013-02 declaring Tikub Lake a protected area and ecotourism zone in the Municipality of Tiaong (Municipal Council of Tiaong 2014). In pursuing ecotourism, incremental improvements were instituted in Tikub Lake by the local government, such as building the main road entrance and sloping entry steps to the small lake, reforesting the vicinity and establishing a perimeter trail around the small lake, and cementing the access road connecting the small lake to the main highway.

3.2 The Potentials for Ecotourism Development of Tikub Lake

Using the Tiaong Municipal Hall located in Barangay Poblacion as the reference point of a population centre, Tikub Lake can be considered as reasonably accessible. The small lake is accessible by road and only about 4.1 kilometres (via Tiaong-Lipa Highway and Barangay Aquino Road) to its main entry in Barangay San Pedro from the town proper. Using a private vehicle, Tikub Lake is only around 15-minute drive from the town centre. In using public transportation, the small lake can be reached either by renting a tricycle (i.e., a motorcycle with attached side passenger coach) in the town proper or riding a jeepney (i.e., a local public utility vehicle) passing through Tiaong-Lipa Highway and then taking a tricycle off the barangay road. It is also accessible to tourists coming from Metro Manila, CALABARZON Region (i.e., Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces) and the domestic/international airports since the Tiaong-Lipa Highway connects to Pan-Philippine Highway (i.e., Maharlika Highway), an artery highway that directly flows to Metro Manila and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The Municipality of Tiaong is 93 kilometres or approximately a 2-hour drive, away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the main airport of the country. 

The quality of the access road going directly to Tikub Lake has incrementally improved over the years. Since the Municipal Government decided to develop the small lake into a tourism hub, the local government has ventured into building the concrete roads going there. Around 70 percent of the barangay road going to the lake has been completed at present. The main entryway to Tikub Lake in Barangay San Pedro has also been constructed and cemented, including the steps descending to the small lake. Recently, the Municipal Government is contemplating on the prospect of developing another entry to Tikub Lake in the side of Barangay Ayusan 1, as it reached an agreement with landowners who acceded in allowing a 10-meter wide right of way to the small lake (DENR-CENRO 2013b).

The water quality is a paramount consideration in developing Tikub Lake for ecotourism, particularly in determining its proper and potential utilisations. Through the request of the Municipal Government, DENR-EMB (i.e., Environmental Management Bureau) assessed the water quality of Tikub Lake. DENR-EMB reported that the small lake is classified as Class B based on DENR’s water usage and classification for fresh surface water (DENR-CENRO 2013b, DA-BFAR 2016). This result implies that Tikub Lake is particularly suitable for tourism and recreational purposes (e.g., bathing, swimming, skin diving and water sports) (DENR 1990). It also confirms the top-tier stature of Tikub Lake in terms of water quality compared to the other small lakes in the Laguna Volcanic Field (i.e., Sampaloc Lake, Bunot Lake, Palakpakin Lake, Pandin Lake, Yambo Lake, Mohicap Lake, Calibato Lake [Seven Crater Lakes] in San Pablo City, Laguna; and Gunao Lake in Dolores, Quezon; see Figure 2) which are mostly classified as Class C (see Brillo et al. 2019, LLDA 2008). 

The physical attributes (i.e., the landscape and lush vegetation) and biotic ecosystem (i.e., endemic flora and fauna species) of Tikub Lake profoundly elevate its aesthetic value. For instance, Tikub Lake hosts a diverse community of species and has a relatively high diversity index for a small lake (Labatos and Briones 2014). Also, the “geological mark” on the eastern side of Tikub Lake can be developed as the emblem landmark of the small lake as well as a photograph centre for visitors. These picturesque attributes, together with the relative superior water quality, make the small lake ideal for ecotourism development. The good condition of Tikub Lake made it a three-time awardee of the “Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran” for Inland Bodies of Water Category for Lakes (see Executive Order 113). Right now, the main drawback in Tikub Lake is the absence of essential facilities needed to set off ecotourism development fully. In particular, the small lake continues to lack the necessary tourism establishments, amenities, and services. Despite the limitations imposed on fish cage farming, most of the infrastructures in the small lake still cater to aquaculture activities. Consequently, the unavailability of tourism facilities has hindered the Municipal Tourism Office efforts to promote Tikub Lake as the town’s flagship tourism destination.

In the absence of a tourism development plan and infrastructures, the demand for ecotourism in Tikub Lake is expectedly weak at present. However, the market demand is anticipated to dramatically increase once the necessary conditions to fully established ecotourism in Tikub Lake have been addressed. This optimistic prospect is based on the growth trajectory of nature-based tourism in the country (NESC-ETWG 2014, see also Ionela, Constantin & Dogaru 2015), and the steadiness of tourist arrivals locally, particularly of nearby established ecotourism destinations. For instance, Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort (a long acclaimed nature-historical tourist destination in Tiaong and only 7.4 kilometres away from Tikub Lake) had around 3,500 foreign and 100,000 local tourist visitors in 2009 (Municipality of Tiaong 2013), and Pandin Lake Sustainable Ecotourism (a recently established small lake ecotourism destination in San Pablo City and only 24.6 kilometres away from Tikub Lake) had 246 foreign and 11,022 local tourist visitors in 2012 (LLDA 2014). The market for Tikub Lake’s ecotourism can be cultivated by linking its development and promotion to these existing nature-based tourism destinations. Moreover, despite the decision of the Municipal Tourism Office to withhold promoting ecotourism in Tikub Lake for the time being (since the tourism development plan still has to be formulated and the tourism facilities and services still have to be set up), visitors have started to trickle down the small lake.

The Municipal Government of Tiaong is the main governmental institution in Tikub Lake. In managing the small lake, the Municipal Government is assisted by national agencies such as the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Region IV (CENRO), and the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region IV (BFAR), and the Provincial Government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Fisheries Division (PAFD). In developing ecotourism in Tikub Lake, the Municipal Government is guided primarily by the Tourism Act of 2009 and the Department of Tourism (DOT) which is mandated to implement rules and regulations and set standards for developing tourism resources.

The Municipal Government has taken initial steps to establish ecotourism in Tikub Lake. The most notable is organising the locals in 2002 paving the way for the creation of the Samahan ng Bantay Lawa ng Tikub (SBLT) which is presently in charged with enforcing regulations and maintenance activities in the small lake. A proposal is currently on the table to institute SBLT as the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) of Tikub Lake (under the Fisheries Code of the Philippines [RA 8550]), as well as the community organisation tasked to manage the envisioned ecotourism in the small lake. The local government through its Municipal Council has also enacted ecotourism-related ordinances from 2012-2013: (a) Ordinance 2012-15 - Prohibiting the construction of private toilets within the easement area of Tikub Lake; (b) Ordinance 2012-16 - Regulating building of pathways, particularly prohibiting the construction of entry steps to Tikub Lake without the permission of the Municipal Government; (c) Ordinance 2012-17 - Prohibiting the cutting or burning of trees, bird hunting and other activities detrimental to the water resource, 50 meters from the privately-owned lands surrounding Tikub Lake; and (d) Ordinance 2013-02 - Declaring Tikub Lake a protected area and ecotourism zone in the Municipality of Tiaong (Municipal Council of Tiaong 2012a, Municipal Council of Tiaong 2012b, Municipal Council of Tiaong 2012c, Municipal Council of Tiaong 2014). All in all, these actions are intended to lay the groundwork for ecotourism development in the small lake.

On policy, the rudimentary step is to initiate the formulation of a Master Development Plan (MDP) that would steer the transformation of Tikub Lake into an ecotourism hub. The urgency of this was echoed in the declaration of Tikub Lake as an ecotourism zone (i.e., Municipal Ordinance 2013-02) which calls for the MDP’s immediate formulation (Municipal Council of Tiaong 2014, see section 6). An MDP works to align tourism and conservation agenda as well as avoids arbitrary development in the small lake. So far, the only existing plan on Tikub Lake is a preliminary management proposal initiated by DENR-CENRO in documenting the existence of a small lake in 2011-12 (see DENR-CENRO 2013a, DENR-CENRO 2013b). This proposal generated a few basic data about the small lake, which can serve as precursor inputs in developing an MDP for the small lake.

The local economy of the Municipality of Tiaong is still highly dependent on agriculture, as around 84 percent of its total land area (i.e., 14,044.00 hectares) are agricultural lands (Municipality of Tiaong 2013). Despite the recent economic boom, the Municipal Government continues to seek ways to improve its financial position and economy. One of the areas that have high potential but largely underdeveloped is local tourism. The tourism industry of Tiaong is still in its infant stage; for a long time, the “only” known tourist destination and principal driver of tourism in the town is Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort which is frequently visited by foreign tourists. Under this backdrop, the tourism industry’s contribution to the local economy of Tiaong is currently deemed as minimal. As a remedy to boost the local tourism industry, the Municipal Government decided to develop ecotourism in Tikub Lake in the early 2000s which eventually became a flagship tourism project of the local government at present. The rationale here is that ecotourism would not only guarantee the conservation of the natural resource but would bring the much needed economic expansion to the whole town. In particular, establishing ecotourism is expected to precipitate the expansion of the local tourism industry and its subsidiary businesses as well as provide employment and livelihood opportunities to the lake communities. It is also anticipated to create forward/backward linkages and bring in investments either from the private sector or national governmental agencies. For instance, financial assistance from the national agencies has already flowed into Tikub Lake: DOT has earmarked P2 million for the improvement of Tikub Lake, particularly to rehabilitate the entry steps and build a circumferential pathway around the small lake; and BFAR has designated around P200,000.00 for the physical restoration and enhancement of Tikub Lake, particularly to construct brush park fish shelters in the small lake. Beyond this, ecotourism in Tikub Lake can serve as the main publicity emblem of the municipality, which is crucial in promoting/advertising the little-known small town of Tiaong to the country and the world.

SBLT serves as the primary stakeholder in Tikub Lake being the community organisation in the area. Presently, SBLT has 27 members consisting of fish cage operators, fisherfolks, and lake residents who are mostly from Barangay San Pedro. Since its creation, the community organisation has served as the main platform for the involvement of the locals in Tikub Lake. SBLT has institutionalised the participation of the community residents and stakeholders by providing a forum for voicing their concerns and mechanism for establishing networks. 

Although the Municipal Government initiated most of the projects and activities implemented in Tikub Lake, SBLT and other stakeholders have consistently supported the local government’s development efforts. The involvement of SBLT, the locals, and civic groups was evident in the recent activities conducted on the small lake, such as: (a) a tree-planting project dubbed “1000 trees in 1 hour” under DENR-CENRO’s National Greening Program and in coordination with the Municipal Government (DENR-CENRO 2015a); (b) a consultation-discussion meeting on the result of the water quality assessment conducted by the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) (DENR-CENRO 2015b, DENR-CENRO 2015c); (c) a consultation-discussion meeting on CENRO’s preliminary assessment of Tikub Lake and its proposed management program (DENR-CENRO 2013a); and (d) maintenance activities like lake clean-up and fingerlings seeding (PAWD-CENRO 2013). On the whole, these activities are geared towards the local government’s vision of establishing ecotourism in the small lake and the active participation of the stakeholders is a strong manifestation of their acceptance.

3.3 The Facilitating-Impeding Factors in Developing Ecotourism of Tikub Lake

A salient feature in developing ecotourism in Tikub Lake has a committed local government. Since the early 2000s to present, the Municipal Government has led the slow, incremental steps to establish ecotourism in the small lake. This action reveals that, despite the high acceptance and active involvement/participation of the stakeholders, the local governance in Tikub Lake continues to be top-down where initiatives emanate from or directed by the local government. In organising ecotourism, the Municipal Government benefits from three facilitating factors: (a) established linkages with national agencies (e.g., DENR and DA) which can assist the local government in technical matters and sourcing of finance; (b) a consensus of support for the ecotourism agenda from the locals; and (c) the existence of SBLT, the community organisation in the small lake which functions as its direct regulator and overseer. The local government has also instigated some activities (with the assistance of national/provincial agencies) in line with its conservation and ecotourism development in Tikub Lake, such as water quality assessment and fish stocks maintenance. Water quality assessment was conducted by DENR-EMB primarily to determine the small lake’s suitability for water-based tourism recreations. DA-BFAR established a brush park as a fish sanctuary, and fingerlings dispersal was launched by PAFD to repopulate the indigenous fish stocks in the small lake.

The sound condition of Tikub Lake is a substantial advantage of working for its ecotourism development. Tikub Lake’s water quality is much better, and its biodiversity and surrounding landscape-greenery rivals the other small lakes in the Laguna Volcanic Field. The small lake also has a little problem on the two rudimentary regulations on lakes in the Philippines— the 10-percent-area-limit rule for aquastructures and 20-meter shoreline easement rule (see RA 8550, PD 1067). The 10-percent-area-limit is based on the fact that aquaculture is a common utilisation among small lakes in the country which tends to over-expand resulting in significant ecological problems for the water resource (e.g., deterioration of water quality and eutrophication). The 20-meter shoreline easement is anchored on guaranteeing public access as well as the conservation of the small lakes by prohibiting settlements along the banks and preserving the surrounding biodiversity and landscape. On both regulations, Tikub Lake “performs” well— the small lake has never experienced exceeding the 10-percent-area-limit rule for aquastructures and has a little issue regarding the 20-meter shoreline easement (unlike the experience of the other small lakes in the Laguna Volcanic Field). At present, only 50 fish cages exist in Tikub Lake (all of them located in the northern part at Barangay San Pedro), and only seven informal settlers’ houses are located within its easement zone. These circumstances offer a decent groundwork for establishing ecotourism in Tikub Lake.

Finance is probably the main issue in developing ecotourism in Tikub Lake. Establishing facilities, organising tourism enterprises and promoting the small lake entails a high cost, that is why finance is a constant problem in lake development, governance, and conservation (e.g., Brillo 2017b, Brillo 2017c). This concern is exacerbated since many small lakes in the country are administered by lower-class municipalities which usually are monetary-strapped local government units. In its efforts to bring ecotourism in Tikub Lake, the Municipal Government of Tiaong is in a better position since the town is currently experiencing an economic boom and has already an existing external network. This edge, however, is insufficient since building the needed infrastructures and operating the ecotourism enterprises demand a substantial and continuous flow of finance. The local government needs to infuse more capital, tap external financial support (either by encouraging the private sector [businesspeople or nongovernmental organisations] to invest or seeking funding assistance from the national agencies), and institutionalise a mechanism for generating funds. To be sustainable, the ecotourism in Tikub Lake must wean itself off the discretionary financial support of the Municipal Government and must be able to operate self-sufficiently. Such measures are indispensable for the long-term viability of ecotourism in the small lake regardless of whoever is at the helm of the Municipal Government or financial soundness of the local government.

4. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The study illustrated the promising prospect of ecotourism development in Tikub Lake. The small lake is locally accessible and easily reachable from the major urban population centres, particularly Metro Manila and CALABARZON. The small lake has relatively superior water condition (i.e., Class B) and has impressive physical features and biodiversity. The potential demand for ecotourism is promising based on the overall trajectory of nature-based tourism locally and nationally. The primary institutions, arrangements and ordinances for initiating ecotourism development have already been in placed on top of the presence of a committed local government. The local economy, in general, and the local tourism industry, in particular, are expected to benefit if ecotourism is established in the small lake directly. The recent activities in the small lake and the active involvement of the locals illustrate their resolute support for ecotourism development. Along the way, these favourable factors are accompanied by impediments, such as the access road and entryways to the small lake is still to be fully completed, the absence of tourism facilities and services, the lack of a basic plan— an MDP, the practice of top-down local governance, and the need to institutionalise a fund generation mechanism. These findings delineate the progress, the potentials and the needed undertakings/improvements to transform Tikub Lake into a full-fledged ecotourism destination— inputs intended to assist the Municipal Government of Tiaong and its stakeholders in moving forward.

Developing ecotourism on small lakes in the Philippines can foster countryside economic development. This is premised on the fact that the proportion of poor Filipinos live in rural areas and that many small lakes are located in the countryside of which the great majority have not been utilised to promote local development. Like Tikub Lake, the many small lakes have superb potentials for ecotourism development which, if established, can catalyse augmenting a local economy, particularly in generating opportunities for work and livelihood. Developing ecotourism on small lakes can also promote the conservation of the inland water resource. This is grounded on the fact that many lakes in the country are ecologically threatened and arbitrarily managed (GNF 2014, LLDA 2014, Aralar et al. 2013). Organising ecotourism in a small lake would bring more attention, resources, and incentive to protect the water body, which can precipitate better local governance. On the whole, ecotourism development is a feasible alternative for encouraging local economic expansion and for sustainably managing a small lake; a consequential development praxis in a country with abundant of small lakes of which impoverished communities orbit many. In closing, the article advances small lakes studies and underscores Tikub Lake’s ecotourism development at the foreground of the local development debate. It continues to move for the democratisation of lake research in the Philippines by arousing scholarly curiosity (beyond the major lakes) on small lakes, in general, and Tikub Lake, in particular.

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