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The Palawan Provincial Tourism Office estimated that the island received 1.1 million visitors in 2016 – up 15% compared with the year before.

While the statement did not provide specific numbers, PTO head Maribel Buñi counted El Nido among the most-visited tourist destinations on the island.

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“I don’t think El Nido has even started to boom. But it’s coming,” says Mark.

“We want to present an eco-friendly lifestyle for other people and be an example for other hotels in El Nido to replicate.”

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A former government employee, Shyo Sayajon moved into the field to make a more direct impact on the environment.

“What normally happens in El Nido is that the waste management is viewed as an expense by hotels,” explains Sayajon, now a full-time permaculture designer.

“Hotels transfer most of the expense to the local government, which is required to manage waste. Sadly, the local government doesn’t manage the waste effectively and ecologically.”

So far at The Birdhouse, Sayajon has implemented permaculture infrastructure including composting, water recycling, natural water storage and organic gardening.

This strategy is especially important for the hilltop property, as typhoons and abundant rain cause land erosion.


“We’re happy to say that our investment in other permaculture infrastructure, specifically swales, mitigated a lot of potential damage,” says Mark.

Sayajon has also worked with hotels throughout the island to implement permaculture facilities and eco-friendly waste-management strategies.

One other way The Bird House has spread the green word is through a new magazine called ESTEL (Eat, Sleep, Tour El Nido), which celebrates local eco initiatives.

“The right steps are slowing being taken,” says Mark. “For example a plastic ordinance ban was introduced. We hope that further education on these types of policies and regulation continues to support the community and sustainability.”

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