THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) in Negros Occidental, has started collecting fees from trekkers at the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP).
Penro-Negros Occidental head Edgardo Rostata said the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) approved the new trekking policy last April 27, which provided the collection of fees.
He said that for NNNP alone, they have already collected at least P21,000 for one month, covering about 70 trekkers who each paid P300.
“This new policy for trekking, separate from different user fees like transmitters of telecommunications companies, is part of the payment for ecosystem services,” Rostata said, adding that DENR is also looking at other areas with potential for income generation.
For Mount Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP), the agency has yet to review the different trails after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lifted the level one alert status of Mount Kanlaon and lowered it to zero on May 5.
Once opened for trekkers, Penro will collect a trekking fee amounting to P250 to P300, depending on the trail.
Based on the agency guidelines, 75 percent of the total collection will be deposited as protected area fund while the remaining 25 percent will go to the national treasury.
Before 100 percent goes to the national treasury, Rostata said.
“Now, we can make use of the 75 percent for other ecotourism developments and programs provided there is an approval from PAMB,” he added.
Rostata said that with this policy, local government units as well as residents are now more aware of the policy and become active in making sure that all regulations are being implemented in different protected areas, he added.
Livino Duran, officer-in-charge regional director DENR-Negros Island Region, said the City Government of Canlaon is proposing for collection sharing.
He noted that the local government has expressed interest in the sharing since it is the one paying for the Kanlaon Green Brigade and other environmental projects.
“We already approved the ecotourism plan of LGUs (local government units) surrounding MKNP,” Duran said, adding that aside from collection sharing, local governments are also very much interested to partake in the protection, conservation, monitoring, and development of natural parks and other protected areas in the region.