Meet Kevin and Isidro: Antique’s whale sharks now open for visits

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Mariela Angella Oladive

The town of Libertad in northern Antique has opened Western Visayas’ first whale shark (butanding) watching destination, banking on sustainable marine tourism to create jobs, attract investments and boost the local economy.

The eco-tourism site in Sitio Idiayan, Barangay Barusbus, was formally launched Thursday, July 16, after trial runs drew more than 800 visitors the previous week.

Tours aboard double-outrigger boats begin as early as 5 a.m., with a promotional rate of PHP 1,000 offered during the launch month.

The site is home to about eight identified whale sharks, five of them named Kevin, Isidro, Nico, Antonio and John. The tourism office said visitors may encounter one to seven of the animals per trip, with sightings possible year-round but dependent on natural conditions such as weather disturbances.

The attraction was developed through the municipality’s partnership with Korean firm JKLAU Corporation, its first with a foreign investor.

Vice Mayor Mary Jean “Bebot” Nicopior-Te said the project was made possible by years of safeguarding the town’s coastal waters.

“This is the first-ever partnership with foreign investors from JKLAU Corporation, which showcases the rich resources Libertad has after so many years of preserving, protecting, and regulating the town’s coastal areas,” she said.

Nicopior-Te said whale sharks have long been sighted in Libertad’s waters, particularly near otoshi-ami fishing grounds, prompting the local government to develop a regulated watching program.

She stressed that the marine giants are wild animals that cannot be confined, making environmental protection central to the venture.

“When you have a very balanced ecosystem, they stay around. They disappear only when there are illegal activities in the sea. These are wild giants — they come and go. That’s why everything has to be sustainable, properly regulated, and compliant with environmental policies,” she said.

Mayor Maribeth Nicopior-LaSerna said the attraction offers a new eco-tourism experience in Panay while showcasing Libertad’s natural attractions and hospitality.

The venture is expected to generate jobs for boat operators, paddlers, tour guides and other tourism workers, while encouraging investments in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, spas and other tourism-related businesses.

In a message delivered by Provincial Tourism Consultant Celestino Dalumpines IV during the launch, Antique Gov. Paolo Javier said the project reflects the province’s vision of becoming a premier eco-tourism destination while protecting its natural resources.

“Tourism is a driver of progress. When developed responsibly, it creates livelihood opportunities, strengthens local enterprises, preserves culture, and uplifts the quality of life of our communities,” Javier said.

The local government is targeting up to 1,000 tourists daily and plans to expand offerings to include snorkeling, diving and island-hopping tours to nearby destinations such as Maningning, Batbatan, Seiko and Boracay.

Libertad is about an hour from Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.

To ensure responsible tourism, the municipality is coordinating with marine biologists to study the whale sharks’ habitat, behavior and population, while reviewing practices from established destinations such as Oslob, Cebu.

Dr. Erwin Ilaya of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Western Visayas reminded stakeholders that the whale shark remains an endangered species and that all tourism activities must comply with Republic Act No. 8550, the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by RA 10654; Fisheries Administrative Order No. 193; and other national regulations on marine wildlife interactions.

FAO 193, issued in 1998, specifically bans the catching, selling, wounding or killing of whale sharks and manta rays in Philippine waters.

The whale shark, the world’s largest fish, has been classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2016. The Philippines hosts some of the world’s best-known aggregation sites, including Donsol in Sorsogon and Oslob in Cebu — the latter often cited in debates over feeding practices and regulated interaction, lessons Libertad officials say they are studying as they scale the program.