Donsol, Whale Shark Capital

"Donsol, Whale Shark Capital"

In a sleepy coastal village located at the northwestern tip of Sorsogon province, this town now eyes to be a first-class municipality, thanks to giant sea creatures that are now attracting hordes of foreign and local tourists who infuse millions of pesos into the local economy. “Donsol was elevated to a third-class municipality in 2006 from a fourth-class status in 2003 and fifth-class in 1998, because of the butanding,” Mayor Salve Ocaya said, while giving tribute to the whale sharks, considered as the world’s largest fish that have found a home in the plankton-rich municipal waters of Donsol.

During the past Holy Week, hundreds of whale sharks visited the municipal waters of Donsol, attracting more than 300 tourists, many of whom checked in at hotels as far as Legaspi City, because of full occupancy at Donsol’s four resorts and 15 houses that have been accredited for the home stay program.

We used to treat butanding as enemies, because they were eating our fish. Now, they are giving us our income. a former fisherman who now works as a butanding interaction officer, with much higher earnings.

A part of the first batch of butanding interaction officers who quit his job as tricycle driver eight years ago, said that at a good season, he could earn up to ten times his previous income.