Malay official bent on imposing P50 environmental fee on Aklanons

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

 

The proposal that seeks to increase the environmental fee imposed on persons entering Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan is being polished.

But if Malay Sangguniang Bayan member Maylynn Aguirre-Graf, the author of the ordinance, is to be asked, there’s no turning back on the bid to impose a P50 environmental fee on Aklanons who are non-residents of Malay.

Currently, a tourist entering Boracay Island has to pay the P75 environmental fee while workers and residents of Aklan are exempted.

Under Municipal Ordinance No. 414 series of 2020 (An Ordinance Imposing An Environmental  And Admission Fee For All Visitors and Guests  Bound for Boracay Island, Malay Aklan), a P300 environmental fee will be imposed on foreigners, P150 on non-Aklanon local tourists, and P50 on Aklanons who are not residents of Malay bound for Boracay.

“We’re fine-tuning it now because the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is asking details on the exemptions,” she said.

The Aklan SP ha earlier recommended further review of the proposal since it wanted exemptions for all Aklan residents.

However, “we will still assert. We have to convince them that it’s necessary talaga na magbayad pag non-Malay residents,” Graf said.

As businesses, workers, and residents of Boracay Island are reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said that they have to help each other.

“So far, solo lang namin ang problema pero pag grasya, eh mukhang share tayo lahat. ‘Pag problema solo lang ng Malaynon,” she said.

But under the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the proposed ordinance, workers and suppliers are exempted from paying the environmental fee.

The same privilege can be granted to members of an entourage attending a wedding in Boracay.

“Sa IRR, the details are there para malinaw sa lahat. Ayaw naman na masabi ng mga Aklanons na mayroong discrimination. That’s not the purpose of the ordinance. We want them, that if they own Boracay also, they have also to take responsibility pag nagkaproblema. And since never silang tumulong, it’s time to help,” Graf said.

Since 2005, guests and tourists going to Boracay are paying environmental and admission fees.

But under Municipal Ordinance No. 230 series of 2005, the fees were waived for persons below 12 years old.

From the P50, the fee was increased to P75 in 2010.

Following concerns on the maintenance of Boracay’s waste management efforts and other environmental issues, the Malay local government decided to raise the environmental fee.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) favored the hike as it will be used to cover the cost of waste management.

Graf said that it was high time to increase the environmental fee citing the need for additional funds for the maintenance and preservation of a world-class destination.

The ordinance stated that the current environmental fee is not enough to maintain the needs of Boracay as an international tourist attraction.