The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay agreed to reduce the proposed P50 environmental fee to P30 for tourists entering Boracay after a consultation with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members over the weekend at Caticlan Jetty Port.
“The environmental fee will be used exclusively for environmental programs and projects in Boracay. The proceeds will be deposited in a trust fund to sustain the resort-island as the top tourist destination in the country,” said Vice Mayor Floribar Baustista. Aklan SP member Plaridel Morania, committee chairman on environmental protection, said, “all stakeholders should share their part to protect Boracay Island, but the imposition of the regulatory fee should be reasonable. If excessive, it might hinder the progress of the island.”
“The tourists might go to other places if the fee collected is exorbitant. The local government of Malay, for regulatory purposes, deemed that a reasonable fee should be collected and spent for the protection of the national treasure of the county,” stressed Morania.
Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino, who presided the consultation, said that “the idea of the P50 environmental fee is not fixed and we have to make certain arrangements to allow the passage of the ordinances of Malay.”
For her part, Malay SB member Julieta Aron pointed out that, “the environmental fee is the answer to protect the degradation of the island. This is meant for a tourist to make his/her share in the protection of Boracay.”
The Malay local government is expecting some P27-million proceeds from the environmental fee designed to partly finance the acquisition of a P9-million sanitary landfill in Sitio Bacolod at Barangay Caticlan, Malay.
Hon. Ramon Gelito, SP committee member on transportation, Hon. Gerick Templonuevo, SP committee member on tourism, and SB members Ralf Tolosa and Nolasco Claud attended the consultation.
WHY CHARGE NON-AKLANON TOURISTS?
But Aklan SP member Selwyn Ibarreta questioned the implementation of the ordinance. He said, “it might open a floodgate of legal actions if the term ‘tourist’ is not well defined and differentiated to that of Aklanon and non-Aklanon guests. This ordinance should be studied first to keep away conflict in the future.” Ibarreta is the chair of laws, rules and ordinances committee.
Under the proposed ordinance, ‘non-Aklanon guest’ is defined as any person who does not reside, without abode or without any family or ancestor in Aklan.
“I think this is the first time in the country that an environmental fee is being charged to tourist. We should resolve if Aklanons are exempted or be given discounts only since all tourists, even if they are Aklanons or non-Aklanons, contribute to the garbage problem of the island,” Malay Vice Mayor Bautista said.
Morania, for his part, recommended the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) with the inclusion of the NGOs in the island to study the ordinance that includes giving discounts to senior citizens, students and group tours.
‘DOUBLE-TAXATION’
Max Zurbito, consultant of Boracay Association of Resorts, Restaurants and Independent Allies (BARRIA) said, “his group is not objecting to the proposal of the local government for fund-raising activities, but local officials should not collect the environmental fee not stated in the Local Government Code.”
However, Vice Governor Tolentino clarified that “the purpose of environmental fee is regulatory and not a tax ordinance as claimed by BARRIA.”
“We consider the initiatives of the private sector like BARRIA in the development of Boracay and the desire of the government of Malay to protect the environment of Boracay,” Tolentino acknowledged.
Instead of the environmental fee, BARRIA is proposing to charge 5 percent to resorts and establishments based on occupancy rooms of staying tourists. Proceeds of which should be remitted to the local government for environmental projects.
Engr. Susan Trinidad, executive director of Boracay Foundation, Inc. supported the proposed P30 environmental fee, but she suggested the creation of a management board to monitor the disbursements of the fees collected. /MP madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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