Content-seeking vloggers warned: Misleading information about Bohol is punishable

By PIA-Bohol | 09:24 PM December 27, 2025

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol –Now, here is something monetizing vloggers and bloggers who seek fast engagements must be aware of: providing inaccurate, false, or misleading information about Bohol tourism product, service, or facility, resulting in deception of the public or tourists, can get one a P5,000 fine and lead to legal suits.  

This as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) enacted last week after the third reading, December 22, the Bohol Sustainable Tourism Development Code of 2025, Provincial Ordinance No. 2025-040, which aims to institutionalize a comprehensive legal and policy framework for the inclusive sustainable Bohol tourism development and promotion regulation and management. 

“It is a statement of who we are as Boholanos—and what kind of future we choose to protect,” said Board Member Jamie Aumentado-Villamor, the Code author and sponsor.

The revised tourism code now defined misrepresentation as providing inaccurate, false, or misleading information about a tourism product, service, or facility, resulting in deception of the public or tourists.

Recently, Bohol is drawing flak after vloggers and bloggers, in search of engaging content, simply dishing out irresponsible, inaccurate and unverified information that dent on the local tourism promotion campaigns. 

And when the information gets posted on social media and other social media platforms, they become accessible and mislead people into deceived public and tourists. 

This also makes it possible for facilitated prosecution as the social media post can be tagged to the source, who can get administrative fine, not exceeding P5,000.

Non-payment of administrative fine within 3 working days shall cause the filing of the case in court, according to section 111 paragraph A of the enacted ordinance. 

For any second offense, one can be fined and or imprisoned, at the discretion of the court, as provided under the Local Government Code of 1991.

And while misrepresentation now can be prosecuted under the ordinance, the new tourism framework also works against any act that degrades, damages, or destroys natural, cultural, and historical tourism sites. 

Last year, a social media post exposed the practice of vandalizing corals off Virgin Island, which cause the temporary closure and rehabilitation of the damaged underwater treasures and the prosecution of the subject diving guide.

The new ordinance also pursues unauthorized operations of tourism-related establishments, transport services, or activities without the necessary permits, licenses, or accreditation and overpricing, fraudulent practices and tourism service providers. (PIABohol)