Site Selection

The researchers able to identify two (3) areas in Ilocos Norte where Sand Dunes exists: Lipa
Batangas, where Sto. Nino Lipa City Beekeepers Association is located, and Balete Batangas,
where Honeybee Producers Cooperative is located. Both have their own natural tourist
attraction and as well as products. In order to select the better area for the proposal, the
researchers followed the site selection criteria in selecting Agri-tourism potential areas from
Department of Tourism.
Criteria

Accessibility
(25%)

Products
(especially the
existence of
beekeeping
business)
(25%)

Malabanan, Balete

Sto. Nino, Lipa City

From Manila to the Municipality of

Balete it would take two-three
rides of combination of bus and
jeepney.

From Manila to City Proper of

Lipa, it would take one ride of bus.

Have concrete paved way to the

site, have jeepney route to the
site, approx. 5 km away from the
National highway
20%
The towns land area was also a
plantation but majority of rice
fields, coconut trees, and animal
husbandry.

Have concrete paved way to the

site, and always have jeepney
route to the site, yet approx. 7 km
away from the National highway
21%

The town land area was majority

of flowering plants, and fruit
bearing trees conducive for
beekeeping.

The cooperative had Apis Cerana

breed of bee which they could get
honey almost every month but of
minimal amount.

The Association had both Apis

Cerana and Apis Mellifera which
they could get honey twice to
thrice a year a large amount.

Focused on the Honeybee

products due to the One Town
One Product Program of Gov.;
also have the usual agricultural
farm products
. 19%

Although having the emerging

honeybee products, due to Lipa
Citys One Barangay One
Product the town also had
coffee, yema, and fruits as an
alternative during the off season of
the honey production
22%

Diversity of
Attraction
(20%)

Balete is a few distance away can

be seen the Batangas View of the
Taal Lake and Volcano, and the
Marian Orchard about 5 km
20%

Facilities/Utilities
and Amenities
(15%)

Electricity and Water is ready in

the site, while telecommunications
are just for cellular phones which
had weak signal for Globe
Telecom

Land Availability
(5%)

Peace and Order

(5%)

Environmental
Practices and
Social Acceptability
(5%)

Since it was still a municipality, it

has fewer amenities in the area
12.5%
The site was mentioned by the
Tourism Department as tourism
potential.Farm lots conducive for
agritourism area available in the
site, but with respect to the need
of continuous lot, it could be a
problem since the municipality
had a smaller land area.
Animal husbandry are also spread
among the municipality thus could
be a problem for odor and sanitary
issues in the future
-4%
No heavy crime are yet known to
the area
4.5%
The towns main reason for
beekeeping was to maintain the
balanced biodiversity of the
residents farm, and avoid much
usage of inorganic materials on
farming; the residents agree to

Lipa City proper was already

abundant with religious and
heritage sites. High end facilities
like golf course, racing circuit, soft
ball facilities, medical spa and
residential estates are few km.
from site. The town was also
known for Mt. Malepunyo, a
mountain climbing and Holy week
destination for tourists
. - 23%
Electricity and Water is ready in
the site, while telecommunications
are also available
Lipa was already a City, there was
a satisfactory on amenities
although about few kilometers
away fr. Sto. Nino
14%
The town was considered to be on
Eco-tourism zone of Lipa City.
The land was currently filled with
agricultural produce conducive for
agri-tourism.
Availability of countinuous lot are
in larger size is available in the
site.
4.5%

No heavy crime are yet known to

the area. Yet being a city, petty
crimes are expected to occur.
4%
They even prohibit bonfires for
those who are camping at the
mountain, this is why near
accommodation is needed.
The residents are very warm with

Total

have the proposal yet still focused

on their current jobs
4.5%
84.5

visitors, likewise with the said

proposal.
4.75%
93.25%

With the average of the combined rating of the researchers, the Lipa City site in Brgy.
Sto. Nino leads with 8.75% due to its diversity of attraction, products, and land availability.
Therefore it was the area chosen for the macro site analysis.