Cuatro Islas

Leyte, Philippines

Cuatro Islas (Spanish) meaning "Four Islands".

Municipality of Inopacan

 Apid
 Digyo
 Mahaba

Municipality of Hindang

 Himokilan

All have been declared Protected Seascape and Landscape by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources on April 23, 2000. Apid is the main island
barangay, while Digyo and Mahaba are sitios (subvillages) of Apid.

Cuatro Islas has been identified as among the emerging tourist spots in Leyte, and a
growing number of tourists are discovering the beauty of its islands.

Site Protection
Regulators will only allow 500 tourists a day to visit the Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape and
Seascape (CIPLS). It further emphasized that this shall avoid overcrowding in the area which may
cause damage to the island’s healthy reef colonies, marine and other biodiversity resources, and iis
pristine surroundings
Stress

A growing number of tourists are discovering the beauty of its islands.

Last year, at least 35,325tourists visited the three islands of Inopacan.

Use Intensity
Social Impact

Cuatro Islas has been identified as among the emerging tourist spots in
Leyte. The Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape and Seascape has
recently been a favorite destination by local and foreign avid
explorers and eco-tourists.
Development Control
The CIPLS Protected Area Management Board headed by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR), adopted the suggested carrying capacity after the four picturesque
islands have shown early signs of environmental degradation. The board accepted the
recommendation of German Development Agency to limit visitors to 500 daily. The study also
recommends limiting snorkelers to 200 per day and entry of boat to the island at 20 at most per day.
Economic improvement through local tourism should not be at the expense of the environment, and
one way to lessen the pressure on the fragile ecosystem of CIPLS is strictly imposing a carrying
capacity limit. The DENR assessment team noted that many families on the four islands are non-
tenured migrants, with some of them already served notices to demolish structures that disturbed the
natural biodiversity and vegetation.
Waste Management
environmental issues identified by the DENR include the existence of communities in the protected
landscape, biodiversity disturbance due to influx of tourists, and poor waste management.

As small islands, these are not capable to withstand the pressure of communities in the area. Adding
pressures to the fragile ecosystem is the influx of tourists. Solid waste generation in disposal in
Digyo Island alone is basically increasing due to high influx of the coming in and out of visitors and
tourists contributing to number of kilograms of garbage per person per day. However, only 30
percent of these were then regularly collected by the local government and brought out of the four
islands in compliance to the protected area rules. the DENR launched “Protect Cuatro Islas”
campaign in its bid to raise awareness and understanding on the significance of cleaning up not as
an ecotourism area, but also as an ecosystem

Tourists are encouraged to bring their trash bags.

Planning Process

Proposal conductedby GIZ PAME were adopted for

implementation through a PAMB Resolution. Protected Area
Management Board PAMB, chaired by the Regional Director of
the DENR, decides on matters relating to planning, protection,
and general administration of protected areas.
Critical Ecosystem
Cuatro Islas covers an area of 12,500 hectares known for its white sandy shores surrounded by
coral gardens. t is home to Tridacna (large saltwater clams) and marine turtles such as Green Sea
and Hawkbill turtle.

Experts found 287 species of reef building corals in the island’s waters. It is also a rich fishing
ground and a home to countless diverse coastal and marine organisms, wildlife and ecosystems.
Consumer Satisfaction

Gian & Sheila

We have encountered a lot of negative experiences from other people who

experienced Cuatro Islas island hopping tour. All of them have the same issues—
boatmen expediting the trip and demand for extra payment even while passing an
island.

Until the LGU corrects their system and they practice proper tourism ethics, we
strongly recommend you skip Cuatro Islas and Digyo Island. They are not worth
your money.

Local Satisfaction