THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Visayas has ordered its personnel in Bohol to investigate reports that some food vendors doing business at Virgin Island in Panglao town were charging their customers with excessive prices.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, DENR-Central Visayas executive director Paquito Melicor Jr. ordered Ariel Rica, head of the Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro), to coordinate with the Municipal Government of Panglao to probe the matter.

Also joining in the investigation are officials of the Protected Area Management Board (Pamb) of the Panglao Island Protected Seascape (Pips), in which Virgin Island is within their jurisdiction.

Pips was created pursuant to Republic Act 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area Systems (E-Nipas) law.

Melicor ordered Rica to investigate the matter and submit his findings to his office on Wednesday, August 3.

Earlier, Panglao Mayor Edgardo "Boy" Arcay of Panglao, Bohol announced that he will personally visit Virgin Island to investigate allegations that the food prices there are very expensive.

The mayor's move came after a woman posted on her Facebook page on Monday, August 1, 2022, that her friend's group paid a total of P26,100 for the seafood that they ordered, which included Abalone for P2,500, tinolang isda for P1,800, kinilaw'ng isda for P3,000, sinugba'ng isda for P2,500, scallops for P3,000, oyster (P3,000), squid (P2,500), lato (P800), baby squid (P1,500), sea urchin (P2,300), banana (P900), softdrinks (P1,300), and beer (P1,000).

Since then, the post went viral on social media and received various feedback, mostly negative, from netizens.

In an interview with the mayor on Monday evening, Arcay said he will find out the truth first before making a comment on the issue. (JKV)