MORE than 500 workers displaced by the whale shark watching suspension in three Bohol towns received P10,000 in financial aid.
Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado announced on June 19, 2025, that 532 affected individuals received the assistance.
The Provincial Government disbursed a total of P10,000 through the Office of Provincial Social Welfare and Development. The aid reached 142 individuals in Dauis, 139 in Alburquerque, and 251 in Lila.
Aumentado issued an Executive Order on February 3, to suspend whale shark watching in Lila, Alburquerque, and Dauis after it was discovered that operators lacked necessary permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Operators fed whale sharks krill, violating Provincial Ordinance 2020-008. This also violated Joint Memorandum Circular 1 Series of 2020, issued by the Department of Tourism, DENR, Department of Agriculture, and Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Aumentado expressed hope that the assistance eased the burden on affected families.
“Nanghinaot ako nga nakahupay kini ug nakapagaan sa inyong kahimtang, samtang wa pa mahibalik ang whale shark interaction activities,” Aumentado said.
(I hope this has brought comfort and ease to your situation, while the whale shark interaction activities are yet to resume). (Jairus Antonio Zoilo Amora, Holy Name University intern)