
BORACAY – It’s going to cost a bit more to visit this island paradise.
Tourists entering have to shell out a higher environmental fee to help sustain tourism infrastructures and services.
The fee covers non-Aklanon tourists and foreigners only.
Malay, Aklan town treasurer Dediosa Dioso said the higher fee will take effect this Feb. 1, some three months after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan approved on Nov. 9, 2020 the local ordinance for such a fee authored by Malay councilor Nanette Aguirre-Graf.
Municipal Ordinance No. 431 set the following new environmental fee:
* P150 from the previous P75 for non-Aklanon tourists
* P300 from the previous P75 for foreigners
Tourists will also pay P100 terminal fee at the Caticlan jetty port, the main jump-off point to Boracay Island.
Due to coronavirus disease restrictions, however, the local government of Malay, Aklan which has jurisdiction over Boracay would, for the time being, rely on the arrivals of domestic tourists for local revenues . The entry of foreigners from inbound markets remains suspended.
The ordinance waived the payment of environmental fee for returning Aklanons and the province’s balikbayans, their children and grandchildren, as well as children tourists below 12 years old.
Local officials defended the increase. The environmental and terminal fees make up not even half of the tourists’ accommodation expenses, they pointed out.
The last time the environmental fee was jacked up was in 2005.
Additionally, the terminal fee at Tabon port, the alternative seaport in Malay, Aklan, is also being increased to P100 from P50.
Exempted from payin g the Tabon terminal fee under Municipal Ordinance No. 430 are Aklanons, officers and enlisted men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and members of the Philippine National Police on official mission or assignment, persons with disabilities who are 60 years old and older, persons below 12 years old, and post office personnel delivering mail.
A 20 percent discount is given to students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities for Tabon terminal fee as well as the environment fee.
Misrepresentation as an Aklanon to skirt paying the environmental and terminal fees is penalized with P2,500 fine./PN