Once a multi-million industry, whale-shark watching in Oslob took a nosedive in 2021

Morexette Marie B. Erram 06/18/2022

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Income from the tourism sector in Oslob, southern Cebu went into a nosedive in 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic dragged on.  Based on the 2021 Annual Audit Report of the Commission on Audit…

Oslob to reopen Sumilon sand bar, whale-shark watching to tourists

Morexette Marie B. Erram 01/25/2022

CEBU CITY, Philippines – More tourist destinations in Cebu province are set to welcome back guests more than a month after they were closed due to Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai). The local government of Oslob on…

Capitol to provide aid for tourism workers in MECQ areas

Morexette Marie B. Erram 08/12/2021

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Government promised to give assistance to workers and tour guides in areas affected by the declaration of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday, August 11,…

Tourism players in Oslob, Cebu still hurting despite industry’s relaunch

Rosalie O. Abatayo 08/17/2020

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Despite that Oslob has already opened its gates to tourism, it may still be long before the development translate to being food on the tables of the families who depend on the industry…

IN PHOTOS: Oslob’s whale shark watching under the ‘new normal’

Morexette Marie B. Erram 08/01/2020

OSLOB, Cebu – The Cebu Provincial Government on Friday, July 31, led the ceremonial reopening of its tourism industry with whale shark watching in Barangay Tan-awan in Oslob town. The even that was also participated by representatives…

Oslob’s whale watching to lead reopening of Cebu’s tourism industry

Rosalie O. Abatayo 07/23/2020

CEBU CITY, Philippines —Whale sharks which locals refer to as “tuki” (butanding) are the attraction that brought tourists’ eyes, foreign and locals alike, to the southern Cebu town of Oslob. For years, Oslob’s clear water and the…

Capitol eyes Mainit Spring in waterworks system dev’t for Oslob

Rosalie Abatayo 03/05/2020

CEBU CITY, Philippines — In order to stabilize the water supply in Oslob, the Capitol is eyeing to tap the spring in the town’s Barangay Mainit as the water source for its waterworks system project for the…

Barangay hall, Coast Guard station, resorts encroach easement in Oslob

Rosalie Abatayo 03/03/2020

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Between 2005 to 2020, the shoreline of the four coastal barangays of Oslob town has slowly shrunk as structures mushroomed along the coast. Oslob, which is famous worldwide for its beaches and whale…

Oslob wants Tanawan whale watching reclassified to ‘urban’ area; abandons plan to limit no. of tourists per day

Rosalie Abatayo 01/28/2020

CEBU CITY, Philippines —The municipality of Oslob is looking into reclassifying the area of Barangay Tanawan, which is known for its whale shark watching activity, into an “urban” area from its current “rural” classification. Oslob Mayor Jose…

Relampagos orders halt to ‘unlicensed’ whale shark watching in Lila town

Rosalie Abatayo 12/31/2019

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The provincial government of Bohol has ordered for a halt of whale shark watching activities in the town of Lila citing the lack of business permit and policies to protect the marine creatures.…

Government to reduce number of whale shark watchers by half

Morexette Marie B. Erram and Rosalie O. Abatayo 10/03/2018

Realizing the need to protect and conserve the town’s top tourist attraction, the municipality of Oslob and the provincial government are planning to regulate the number of tourists who want to watch and swim with whale sharks,…

Oslob whale-shark watching activities to be regulated

Morexette Marie B. Erram 10/03/2018

The Oslob Municipal Government and Cebu Provincial Government are eyeing to limit the number of visitors who come for the town’s whale-shark (butanding) watching activities. A stakeholders meeting, together with representatives from the Department of Tourism (DOT)…

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