NEW LIGHT: DEVELOPMENT OF TAMBARON ISLAND

(AN ISLET AT THE EDGE OF MINDORO ISLANDS, PHILIPPINES)

ABSTRACT

The Philippine Islands proud itself in its natural and valuable resources – land, waters, populace, minerals,
and its more than 7,100 islands. Located near the equator, it has a tropical climate which enables its
natural resources be sustainable and give its people an unlimited opportunity on cultivating and
developing their lands. Although economic difficulties came across the country, statistics show that it is
in the highly urbanized and urbanized areas that pulls the country’s data. Considering all aspects,
including the pandemic, it is now a trend in the country to drive to the countryside for good or for their
retirement.

All provinces, except major tourist destinations who are equipped, are now preparing for an influx of
travelers once travel restrictions eased up. The Mindoro Islands (Oriental Mindoro and Occidental
Mindoro) located in the southern part of Luzon (one of the three (3) major Philippine Islands – Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao) has one major tourist destination – Puerto Galera. But the locals know that there
are more hidden gems of the island which are yet to be developed but has astonished those who seek
for its beauty.

One of Mindoro’s hidden gems is the Tambaron Island, an islet located at the southmost part of Mindoro,
near the boundary of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro in Maasin, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro.

It can be considered a missed opportunity to developers that Tambaron Island came unnoticed. The
objective of this paper is to present a brief site analysis, demographics, economic and business
opportunities in the development of Tambaron Island.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND LAND SURVEY

In Barangay Maasin, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, 176.32 Hectares (1,763,153 square
meters) the private island of Tambaron is located. It is just 3 nautical miles from the mainland port of
Bulalacao, and few less miles from a local boat service; it is also 35 nautical miles Northwest of Boracay
Island, Aklan – one of the leading tourist spots in the country; 65 nautical miles East of Coron, Palawan.

Tambaron Island has four main beaches. The northern part houses the Carbon Beach, which is great for
snorkeling, while the south tip houses the Marasurong Beach, which is great for kite-boarding and
windsurfing. The Dangkalang Malaki and the Dangkalang Maliit are the hubs for island activities. They
were also able to preserve the environment may it be flora, fauna or marine lives.

ACCESSIBILITY

The island is very accessible. One can travel by air, land and sea. It is just a boat away from the local port
of Bulalacao which is attached to the nautical highway of Mindoro connecting it to all the other islands
around it. It is also near a local airport in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

DEMOGRAPHICS

There has not much population in the island but a family which stands as the care taker of the island
employed by the owner. The populace mainly resides on the mainland Mindoro and in the main barangay
of Maasin, the island next to Tambaron. Bulalacao itself has approximately 44, 366 people. However, if
we will be talking about development, the population of the southern part of Mindoro (Oriental and
Occidental) shall be included in the formula as these parts can also be categorized to undeveloped to
under developed.

Most of the population on the shoreline mainly rely on fishing and small stores. There is a small
percentage of big businesses like construction, quarrying, and cargo among others.
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC IMPACT

Tambaron island has a high potential for development not only as a tourist destination but can also build
and sustain a self-sufficient economy.

The development of tourist destinations is a complex and multidimensional process that is the theme of
an expanding literature (Prideaux, 2004). Much attention is focused on coastal resorts, increasingly within
the context of sustainability (Bramwell, 2004), and the nature and implications of their evolution (Agarwal
& Shaw, 2007; Andriotis, 2006; Dowling & Pforr, 2009; Young, 1983). Resort morphology, defined as the
“forms and associated functions of a destination area and their development” (Liu & Wall, 2009, p. 339),
has traditionally been of interest to geographers. Its study has become more sophisticated over the
decades and methodologies include modelling, often from historical and spatial perspectives. A commonly
observed morphological pattern is that of growth from modest beginnings as a tourism industry
establishes itself.

Tourism-inspired urbanization is a striking feature of stretches of Caribbean and Mediterranean coastlines

where fishing villages have been transformed into towns for tourists (Barke & France, 1996; Duval, 2004).
Mass tourism tends to be a newer occurrence in parts of the Asia Pacific region such as South East Asia,
reflected in the shortage of research studies, which is now being addressed (Liu & Wall, 2009).
Nevertheless, it too yields illustrations in which the speed of change has been dramatic (King, 2001).
Progression from small community to international tourist center conforms to the long-standing
destination life cycle theory (Butler, 1980, 2001), which has been tested extensively, but with inconclusive
results. However, although reality may be more complicated (Butler, 2006; Prideaux, 2000), there is
evidence that resorts do experience a rise and subsequent fall in popularity as time passes (Agarwal,
2002).

Commercial activity is initially concentrated in the original settlement and then spreads along the shore
and inland in a movement that can displace other occupants and uses, although larger resorts also have
discrete business and residential areas (Meyer-Arendt, 1985; Stansfield & Rickert, 1970).

One reason for declining tourist interest is improperly managed development and environmental damage
(Jennings, 2004; Wong, 1998, 2003). This is an important component of the comprehensive model devised
by Smith (1991), which contends that resorts pass through the eight stages outlined, together with
defining characteristics, in Table 1. Advances are affected by internal forces, but externalities play a part.
There is an assumption that stage eight represents a final condition, and this notion is questioned in later
sections when the model is applied to the case. Smith’s work was selected as a template for the study
rather than Butler’s life cycle model because it is based on Asian Pacific experiences and focuses on spatial
dimensions specific to resorts, whereas the latter is generic and encompasses destinations as a whole.
Islands are an interesting and important type of destination (Harrison, 2001; King, 1997; Lockhart &
Drakakis-Smith, 1997), which range from those in the Maldives where there is space for only a single
accommodation property to much larger entities with several resorts. In general, tourists are enticed by
their separateness and sense of difference. Some islands are seen to have a relaxed atmosphere and exotic
people, as well as unspoiled environments, which are complemented by warm and sunny weather (Baum,
1997).

Thus, the development can have its initial phases while creating the condition to more aggressive
development. This may include the following:

Travellers and Tourist Destination Phase. The island can start its business anytime. We can capitalize from
where it has been. But this should be supplemented by initial development (ex. first hotel, new/additional
infrastructures/facilities for staycations and other activities), management, marketing strategies,
promotions, employment, environmental advocacies and other factors deemed necessary. This will
create an organic promotion and will set the condition to become a beehive of locals, travellers and
tourists.

Resorts Established Phase. More hotels, strip development intensifies, residential expansion, hotel and
resort jobs dominate.

Businesses Established Phase. More accommodation, visitor types broaden, non-hotel business growth,
tourism dominates, and beach congestion.

Inland Hotels Phase. Hotels away from beach, rapid residential growth, business district consolidates,
flood and erosion damage potential, tourism culture dominates, traditional patterns obliterated,
entrepreneurs drive development, government master plan.

The next phases or stages could be becoming an urbanized island then a city resort.
Photos and Videos:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16b9RvXM1hTek5IBkKWhwdZWFjXkOX9gW?usp=sharing
PROJECT COST AND ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE PROJECT
(shall be determined by the real estate developer)