Community-Based Homestay Service: A Proposed Livelihood Project for the Dumagats

Abstract

The study is founded on a sustainable eco-tourism built on indigenous peoples’ economic empowerment without compromising their cultural heritage. The main objective of the study was to assess the economic viability of the community-based homestay service as a livelihood project to help improve the quality of life of the Dumagats who are native residents of Daraitan. The main service of the project is to provide accommodation and campsite for tourists who usually go for trekking at Mt. Daraitan. The descriptive survey method was employed in this study. Validated survey questionnaires were given out to 430 local and foreign tourists who visited the nature reserve. Data were tabulated and analyzed using the descriptive statistics and financial ratios; such as liquidity ratios, test of return on sales, gross profit ratio, and return on capital. The financial assessment of the homestay service yielded an average of 21.7% return on sales; 83.47% gross profit ratio, and 79.37% return on capital. A portion of the profit will be appropriated for charitable purposes. Mt. Daraitan is one of the to-go-to spots in the Philippines, where nature still can be seen at its most pristine state. Results of financial estimates showed that the economic viability of the project, through development, preservation of the natural architecture of the park, and a livelihood program for the natives that inhabit the area, are very strong reasons to push through with the proposal.