Córdova is located at the southern region of Mactan Island. It is a quiet and secluded area.
Córdova is a municipality located in Mactan Island, an island part of Cebu in the Philippines.
Córdova is administratively subdivided into 13 barangay or barrio.
- Alegría
- Bangbang
- Buagsong
- Catarmán
- Cogon
- Dapitan
- Day-as
- Gabi
- Gilutongan (composed of Gilutongan and Nalusuan Islands)[1]
- Ibabao
- Pilipog
- Población (the heart of Cordova)
- San Miguel
Like most of the towns in the Province of Cebu, Cordova also got its name after a place in Spain. It was Governor General Rafael Echague who created this town (composed of the barrios of Gabi, Day-as, and Pilipul) on May 22, 1863. He chose the name Cordova which means "stark nakedness and bare". Spain, Mexico and Argentina and the six states of the United States of America - Alaska, South Carolina, Illinois, Alabama, New Mexico, & Tennessee have cities also named Cordova. The creation of Cordova into a separate Municipality in 1863 was short-lived. When the Americans replaced the Spaniards, Cordova was re-absorbed by the Municipality of Opon, now Lapu-Lapu City. On January 01, 1913, Cordova became a Municipality again by virtue of Orden Ejecutiva Numero 96 issued by US Governor General Newton W. Gilbert on December 17, 1912. This is how Cordova became a Municipality. In this site, it is not only the history of Cordova that will be disclosed but also other beautiful and wonderful tourism spots and nature's park will be featured. So come, explore, experience and rediscover CORDOVA, CEBU!
So here are the following beautiful and wonderful tourist spots in Cordova, Cebu
Marine Sanctuary (Gilutongan, Cordova, Cebu)
The Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary is a 14.89-ha. “no take” marine reserve on the eastern side of Hilutangan Island. The marine sanctuary includes fringing reefs from the coastline across the reef flat and to a 20-80o slope. Underwater visibility is good. There are now many fishes including a school of batfishes.
So here are the following beautiful and wonderful tourist spots in Cordova, Cebu
Marine Sanctuary (Gilutongan, Cordova, Cebu)
The Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary is a 14.89-ha. “no take” marine reserve on the eastern side of Hilutangan Island. The marine sanctuary includes fringing reefs from the coastline across the reef flat and to a 20-80o slope. Underwater visibility is good. There are now many fishes including a school of batfishes.
Gilutongan is a village in the municipality of Cordova, Cebu. Most of the fishers here have now turned to seaweed farming. Many others live by peddling various goods to visiting tourists. Many tourists (especially divers) from nearby Cebu and Mactan visit the area.
The Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary was established by the municipal legislative council (Municipal Resolution 91-83) by approving the recommendations made by the Cordova Resource Management Board (Board Resolution 01 series 1991). The sanctuary was the pilot site of the Cebu Resource Management Project (1991-1993). Through the help of the USAID/DENR Coastal Resource Management Project, the sanctuary ordinance was formally adopted by the Municipality of Cordova on March 24, 1999 through Resolution No. 30 Series of 1999, but was later found to be inadequate. Several inter-agency consultations suggested revisions so the marine sanctuary ordinance was amended May 31, 1999 through Resolution No. 47, Ordinance No. 3, Series of 1999 (increasing the sanctuary from 10 to 14 hectares) and Ordinance No. 8, Series of 1999 (defining the activities allowed, regulated and prohibited and prescribing penalties) (Morales 2000). Fishing (of any type) and any extractive activities are strictly prohibited. Boating and use of wave runners and jetskis are also prohibited. Diving, snorkeling and swimming inside the sanctuary may be allowed but are subject to certain management regulations. The sanctuary was marked in June 1992 and well enforced by village secretary Timoteo Menguito from 1992 until he quit his voluntary efforts in 1995. Since then up to 1998, it was virtually unprotected. The boundaries were again marked on October 1999. Menguito, who is also the Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council point person), is again the most active (sometimes the only) guardian and was hired in 2000 by the DENR as the sanctuary’s keeper. A guardhouse is strategically located in the middle of the shore side of the sanctuary, and commands a good view of the whole area. A coastal clean-up was conducted in October 1998 and the village FARMC has been organized.
There is a management plan that includes mechanisms for collecting fees, multiple-use zoning, and other regulations. The sanctuary earns around P25, 000 per month from diving and snorkeling (user) fees and fines (LAP 2001) and a portion has recently been transferred to the village for development projects (Menguito pers. comm.). There are also plans to renovate the guardhouse. Very recently, other residents in the community now sometimes join Menguito in guarding the sanctuary.
15.4 Issues and Threats
The area is very close to Metro Cebu and so is potentially subject to shipping and coastal construction stresses. Though the community supports the sanctuary, until very recently only Mr. Menguito was actively involved in guarding.
15.5 Monitoring, Evaluation and Feedback
The community, including some village councilors, women and youths, has been relatively active in the reef monitoring activities though they have been less active in the guarding. The vendors (who sell souvenirs and snacks from small boats) have been organized and have been tapped to participate in guarding activities.
Fish abundance reportedly increased from 1992 to 1995 when the sanctuary was first established, and decreased when the sanctuary was not enforced (Timoteo Menguito pers. comm.). Target fishes have since increased in numbers once again inside the reserve (Fig. 15.2). A school of batfishes are among the most distinctive regulars within the sanctuary. On the other hand, the decreasing trend in target fish abundance adjacent to the sanctuary is mainly due to fusiliers and, to a lesser extent, to parrotfishes (Table 15.2). At the same time, hard coral cover and dead coral cover inside and adjacent to the sanctuary increased then decreased from 1999 to 2001 (Table 15.1 & Fig. 15.1). However, this observation was most probably due to placement of transects on sandy substrate in 2001; if this were to be taken into account, hard coral cover is probably stable.
