BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance imposing an environmental user’s fee in the city and prescribing penalties for violations of the same and for other related purposes.
The ordinance authored by Councilors Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon and Joel Alangsab states it is a declared policy of the city government to promote the protection and conservation of natural resources pursuant to existing Philippine environmental laws and assure the wise utilization and management on a sustainable basis of the city’s natural resources with the necessity of maintaining a sound ecological balance and enhancing the environment.
The ordinance adds it is also important for the city to uphold the prevailing cultural heritage; promote, enhance, and sustain the tourism activities in the city through the conservation and protection of various tourist destinations in the city; establish additional source of funding to finance the conservation, protection and management of various tourist sites of the city; share responsibility for environment protection, remediation, restoration and development by allocating cost to responsible agents and users; generate funds by identifying additional sources of revenues to finance the implementation of environmental and tourism plans and projects and establish and implement partnerships and linkages among the city government, environment department, tourism department and other concerned national agencies, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders.
The ordinance stipulates the establishment of an environmental user’s fee system which effectively allocates responsibility for environmental management, development, protection and remediation by charging a certain amount for the use and or enjoyment of the city’s environment and natural resources.
The ordinance imposes an environmental user’s fee of P75 shall be collected by each designated and authorized collectors from all tourists, travelers and guests upon entering a tourist destination or site in the city.
Further, the environmental user’s fee shall only be good for the user’s stay in the aforesaid site and that all funds collected shall form part of the income of the city as part of its general funds.
The environmental user’s fee shall be collected at identified collection sites put up at all entry points for all travelers or guests at all tourist destinations in the city.
The ordinance tasked the City Treasury Office to be the principal collection office and shall be responsible in collecting the aforesaid fee and to assist the same office, the City Mayor may appoint designated collecting agents.
The ordinance allocates 10 percent from the net collection from the environmental user’s fee shall be given to all barangays of the city, with 40 percent thereof shall going to the host barangay where the tourist destination or site is located, and 60 percent shall be divided equally by all component barangays of the city.
Any violation of the pertinent provisions of the ordinance shall be fined P2,500 and P5,000 respectively or imprisonment for 6 months or both upon the discretion of the court.
By Dexter A. See