By Helen Castaño | 03:59 PM November 10, 2026
Board Member Jiselle Rae “Jamie” Aumentado Villamo— BM Jamie Villamor/FB
TAGBILARAN CITY – Licensed and Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited tour guides have appealed to the Panglao municipal government to exempt them from paying entrance fees when accompanying tourists to Balicasag Island, prompting a Bohol provincial board member to seek a review of the fee collection policy.
In an open letter addressed to the Panglao Municipal Tourism Office, the tour guides questioned why they were required to pay entrance fees even when entering the island as part of their professional duties.
They said they were not ordinary visitors but tourism frontliners who educate guests about Bohol’s culture, history, traditions and environmental conservation while promoting responsible tourism.
The guides also noted their contribution to attracting tourists, supporting local businesses and sustaining the province’s tourism industry.
They urged the municipal government to establish a clear policy exempting qualified, licensed and DOT-accredited tour guides from entrance fees when officially accompanying tourists for tourism-related activities.
They also sought equal treatment for accredited guides from other municipalities, saying the exemption should not be limited to Panglao residents.
The tour guides acknowledged that entrance fees help maintain and protect tourism destinations but said their professional responsibilities and contributions should also be recognized.
“This is not about avoiding responsibilities or creating conflict. This is about fairness, recognition, and proper coordination,” they said.
The issue was raised at the provincial level by Board Member Jiselle Rae “Jamie” Aumentado Villamor, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Committee on Tourism, who called for an inquiry in aid of legislation into the reported collection of environmental and tourism-related fees in Balicasag.
In her privilege speech on Tuesday, Villamor said the provincial government needed to establish whether the charges were environmental user fees imposed under national environmental and protected-area laws or entrance fees authorized by local ordinances or agreements with tourism operators.
“These are not necessarily the same and may have different legal bases, purposes, and collecting authorities,” she said.
Villamor proposed inviting representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, protected-area management authorities, DOT, Panglao municipal government, tour guides, boat operators and other tourism stakeholders to clarify the matter.
She said the issue could have implications beyond Balicasag because Bohol has several protected landscapes, seascapes and marine sanctuaries.
While recognizing the importance of environmental protection and lawful fee collection, Villamor said the circumstances of tourism professionals should be considered.
“While accreditation does not automatically entitle anyone to an exemption from a lawfully imposed fee, their circumstances deserve consideration, particularly when they enter these destinations in the performance of their professional responsibilities,” she said.
Villamor stressed that sustainable tourism requires balancing environmental protection, economic development and the welfare of people whose livelihoods depend on the industry.
“Environmental protection and tourism development should go hand in hand,” she said.
