Increase in Puerto Galera user’s fee opposed

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

TOURISM stakeholders in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro are up in arms against the plan of the local government to hike the environmental user’s fee (EUF) levied on those visiting the area, saying this would dampen tourists’ arrivals.

The plan of the local government to increase the current P50 EUF to P120 has united such groups as resort owners, tricycle operators, and drivers and even tourist guides in calling for at least a three-month deferment, if not the outright rejection of the plan in an ordinance being heard by the municipal council.

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In a forum Wednesday in Pasay City, former Puerto Galera town mayor Aristeo Atienza said the move to increase the EUF would severely affect the tourism industry, the main source of livelihood for the more than 30, 000 residents (per the 2007 census by the National Statistics Office) of the resort town.

“Narito ako hindi para mamulitika kundi para makiisa dahil lahat ng mamamayan, at hindi lang mga turista, ang maapektuhan ditto,” Atienza said.

Incidentally, Atienza is an uncle of the town’s current mayor, Dr. Hubbert Christopher Dolor.

Tourist arrivals in Puerto Galera have already seen a marked decline from the 200,000 in 2008 to 150,000 in 2009-2010. The collection of the P50 EUF fee was started in 2007.

Revenues from the EUF increase would be used to fund the setting up of a Sewage Water Treatment Plant (SWTP) by a consortium in an 80-20 revenue sharing with the local government unit. The local government would have to pay P29 million yearly to the winning consortium for 25 years.

The SWTP reportedly would cost about P100 million.

But Atienza said Puerto Galera’s finances could not afford to fund the 20 percent share of the cost, adding that the town’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) is only P100 million.

Former town councilor Venancio Yap said the project, though laudable as it would help resolve the problem of waste water, particularly in Sabang Beach, is premised on the wrong assumption.

“Ang original kasing target nito ay isang milyong turista ang pupunta dito sa loob ng isang taon pero kung titingnan mo ang datos ay bumaba na talaga ang mga turistang dumadayo dito samantalang ang nakukuha na EUF ay bumaba na rin sa 7.5 milyong pesos mula sa 10 milyong pesos noong 2008,” Yap said.

Yap, who is also a relative of Dolor, urged the latter to defer even temporarily the implementation of the fee hike. He said consultation with all stakeholders should be done so as to get their opinion on the controversy.

If the one million tourist arrivals have been reached, the local government projected it would earn an income of P50 million on an annual basis based on the present P50 EUF and more than double the amount if the hike is approved.

Under the plan, 60 percent of the revenues from the EUF collected will go to the construction of the SWTP, 20 percent to the municipality’s 13 barangays, five percent will go to the municipal general fund and the remaining amount as reserve funds to be used in times of calamities and for the maintenance of coastal resources.

Aside from the EUF fee, visitors have also to contend with terminal, docking and wharfage fees.

Yap said there are other alternatives to treating waste water and other effluents other than the SWTP such as the Closed Type Septic Tank (CTST) which would cost only P6 million to build, while the annual operating cost will also be lower compared to the SWTP.

He added that aside from the CTST, there are other alternatives that the local government could find if it would only take time to seek the ideas of the stakeholders.

For his part, Antonio Mel Velasco, the legal counsel of the stakeholders who have bandied as the San Isidro Beach Resort Owners Association (SIBROA), said they are planning to file with a motion with the court urging to prevent the implementation of the fee hike adding that they are just waiting for the deliberation in the municipal council whether it will passed the ordinance.

SIBROA has also started a signature drive against the plan.

Aside from the numerous pocket beaches, snorkeling and scuba diving spots, Puerto Galera was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving area in Asia.

It was also listed in the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World making it the only bay in the Philippines to be listed there.

Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang and White Beach, which have an active nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants. Both beaches also have an array of first and economy class accommodations. (AH/Sunnex)