Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren has defended the municipality’s whale shark tourism operations following a recent four-day absence of the endangered species from the town’s interaction area. The absence of whale sharks during the early morning hours from Friday, May 22 to Monday, May 25, 2026, prompted a temporary pause in the tourist activity. Guaren said the absence of whale sharks from the interaction area was a natural, seasonal occurrence influenced by environmental conditions rather than a permanent disappearance.

Flores, C. (2026, May27). Oslob mayor: Whale shark absence seasonal. SunStar, p. 3.