LGU MANOLO FORTICH IMPLEMENTS REVISED TOURISM ECOLOGICAL FEE

Preserving the beauty of Dahilayan and the natural resources of Manolo Fortich.

To strive for environmental empowerment while enhancing tourism excellence in Manolo Fortich, the Municipal Tourism Office, headed by Jixon Cloyd Abanes along with the Municipal Treasurer Zoraida C. Lozada, successfully conducted the first day of implementation of the Tourism Ecological Fee increase at Barangay Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich on September 1, 2023.

As stipulated in Ordinance No. 2023-1872, “An ordinance further amending Ordinance No. 2018-1182, to increase the Tourism Ecological Fee from PHP 5.00 to PHP 25.00,” tourists are now required to pay 25 pesos when visiting tourist destinations in Manolo Fortich.

“Kini nga ordinance, which is the revised tourism ecological fee collection, gipangusgan gyud sa atong konsehal, Committee Chairperson on Tourism, Coun. Rina E. Quiño nga ang katong previous na ordinansa, kibali gi dugangan ang 5 pesos na ecological fee padulong sa 25 pesos na karon,” says Abanes during the live interview on Barug Manolo Fortich Radio Program, September 1, 2023 in the morning.

“Para mahibalo-an ang mga pangutana sa mga katawhan nganong gi padak-an ang ecological fee, among gi generalize ang mapadulngan sa atong 25 pesos,” adds Abanes on elaborating the 5 objectives of the tourism ecological fee increase which are: (1) Enhance Local Waste Disposal, (2) More Green Enforcers, (3) Increase trash cans around the area, (4) Promotion of Local Tourism, and (5) Environmental Awareness Programs.

On the implementation aspect, tarpaulins that serve as announcement and explanation of the said increase have been posted along the highways of Manolo Fortich, as well as collection points of the Tourism Fee have been placed on tourist areas such as Dahilayan Forest Park, Adventure Park, Mangima Spring Resort and Bike Park, and various parts of Manolo Fortich. These areas are expected to be places where tourists are known to pass by.

On the ticket validity, Abanes explains its usage, “Sa tanan mga tourists, collectors, and establishments, ang Tourism Ecological Fee is valid for 3 days. So katong mga guests na mo agto og lahi lahi nga areas diri sa Manolo, they don’t need to pay the 25 pesos fee if nag bayad na sila daan sa ilang na visit na previous tourist area.”

On the same Friday morning of the implementation, tourists were already starting to arrive early and had started to line up for the Tourism Ecological Fee payment.

Marites Lacorte, a tourist visiting Dahilayan Forest Park along with her family expressed her opinion on the Tourism Ecological Fee increase, “It’s okay raman magbayad og ecological fee, as long as makita nato nga malinis ang kapaligiran. Lahat ng areas may mga basurahan para ma maintain ang kalinisan dito sa Dahilayan,” she says. “This is already my 4th time here. I am planning to come back by December and bring my whole family. Titignan ko kung meron bang changes and improvements.”

Brgy. Dahilayan in Manolo Fortich is the core of the tourism industry in the municipality. In the expense of its tourism excellence comes the responsibility of sustaining the environment and raising awareness. Thus, it is only with proficient teamwork of the government, stakeholders, and tourists in preserving the beauty of Dahilayan and the natural resources of Manolo Fortich.