(BASEY MUNICIPAL TOURISM OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY — Efforts to strengthen tourism services and digital connectivity in one of Eastern Visayas’ premier ecotourism destinations received a major boost after the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office VIII (DOST-8) turned over a STARLINK satellite internet unit to the Sohoton Services Cooperative in Basey, Samar.
The initiative is expected to improve communication, enhance visitor services, and support the digital promotion of the Sohoton Cave and river tourism complex, a popular destination known for its unique geological formations and natural attractions.
The STARLINK unit was formally handed over on May 28 through the Samar Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) under DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program, which aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of communities through science, technology, and innovation-driven interventions.
The Sohoton Services Cooperative manages tourism activities within the Sohoton River area, including guided cave tours and river cruises that attract thousands of visitors annually.
Prior to the installation of the satellite internet system, the tourism site had limited connectivity and relied primarily on peso WiFi services and WiFi phones, posing challenges to communication, online transactions, and tourism promotion.
With the new technology, local tourism stakeholders expect improved internet access that will facilitate real-time communication, online bookings, digital marketing, and better coordination of tourism operations.
Leading the turnover ceremony were Engr. Joseph Albert Lledo, Engr. Philip John Condes, and Jincent Mercado of the DOST Samar PSTO. Representing the local government was Municipal Tourism and Development Officer Evangeline Ritaga, who attended on behalf of Basey Mayor Luz Chu-Ponferrada.
Officers and members of the Sohoton Services Cooperative, the direct beneficiaries of the project, also participated in the event.
Beyond improving connectivity, DOST announced an additional environmental initiative for the tourism site through the planned installation of a Modular Ecology-friendly Domestic Wastewater (MEDOWW) Treatment Facility under the CEST Program.
The wastewater treatment facility is designed to support sustainable tourism development by improving wastewater management and helping protect the ecological integrity of the Sohoton River area.
DOST officials said the interventions reflect the agency’s continuing commitment to empowering local communities through appropriate technologies that promote economic growth, environmental sustainability, and inclusive development.
By combining digital connectivity and environmental protection measures, the agency hopes to help position Sohoton as a more competitive and sustainable ecotourism destination while creating greater opportunities for local residents who depend on tourism for their livelihood.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
