Balicasag tour guide fees questioned

CALL FOR REVIEW Balicasag Island in Panglao, Bohol, as seen in this file photo, is at the center of a proposed inquiry into environmental and entrance fees charged to Department of Tourism-accredited tour guides accompanying visitors. Provincial Board Member Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor seeks to clarify the legal basis of the fees and whether guides should be exempted while on duty. —LEO UDTOHAN

TAGBILARAN CITY—A Bohol provincial board member has sought an inquiry into the collection of environmental or entrance fees from Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited tour guides accompanying visitors to Balicasag Island in Panglao town, citing the need for clear and consistent policies across the province’s tourism destinations.

Lawyer Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor, chair of the provincial board’s committee on tourism, raised the issue in a privilege speech on Tuesday, asking the provincial government to determine the legal basis for the fees, the collecting authority, and whether tour guides are covered by the charges.

Villamor said the concern was brought to the provincial government’s attention through a Facebook message reporting that accredited tour guides were being asked to pay environmental fees.

Legitimate interest

She also cited an open letter from tourism stakeholders addressed to the Panglao municipal government seeking exemption from entrance fees while guides accompany tourists in the performance of their duties.

Villamor said it was important to establish whether the charges were environmental user fees imposed under national environmental and protected-area laws or entrance fees authorized by a local government ordinance or an agreement with a tourism destination operator.

“These are not necessarily the same and may have different legal bases, purposes, and collecting authorities,” she said.

Villamor stressed that the provincial government had a legitimate interest in the matter because Bohol has several protected landscapes, seascapes, marine sanctuaries and other environmentally significant destinations.

“If the matter involves a national policy, then we must understand its broader implications for the other protected seascapes and landscapes in Bohol,” she said.

Villamor clarified that her initiative was not intended to undermine the authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Panglao municipal government or other concerned agencies.

She also cautioned against assuming that accreditation automatically exempts tour guides from legally imposed fees.

“While accreditation does not automatically entitle anyone to an exemption from a lawfully imposed fee, their circumstances deserve consideration, particularly when they enter these destinations in the performance of their professional responsibilities,” Villamor said.

She proposed referring the matter to the committee on tourism for an inquiry in aid of legislation, in coordination with other appropriate committees.

Villamor recommended inviting representatives from the DENR, protected-area management authorities, DOT, Panglao municipal government, accredited tour guides, boat operators and other tourism stakeholders.

The issue stemmed from an open letter by tourism stakeholders asking the Panglao Municipal Tourism Office to exempt licensed and DOT-accredited tour guides from entrance fees when accompanying tourists to Balicasag Island.