Visitors to the Lake Balinsasayao National Park have been appalled by the fees imposed by the Protected Area Management Board. Upon entry at the park, visitors are told of the two fees. On each of four recent visits to the park by MetroPost editors. They were told, “Tag diyes ang entrance. Naa mo’y foreigner kuyog? Tag 100 na siya (Entry fee is P10 each. Do you have a foreigner with you? He pays P100).”
Something is obviously wrong with this kind of statement or policy. It is racial discrimination pure and simple. How would you define the word “foreigner”? Is it mainly by skin color? What do you make of Filipinos who have elected to become citizens of other countries?
Around the world, national parks charge entry fees. Rates between foreigners and locals vary, as well. But nowhere else can you find that foreigners pay a higher rate simply because he has a different skin color from the ones running the park. This policy had been outlawed throughout the world long ago.
To keep us at par with the rest of the world, perhaps the PAMB might want to revisit the fee structure and word them in such a way to be politically correct. If we may suggest, varying fees would be imposed on the following categories of visitors:
1) Foreign Tourists who are non-residents over 12 years of age,
2) Foreign Tourists who are non-residents under 12 years of age,
3) National Tourists or Foreign Residents over 12 years of age,
4) National Tourists or Foreign Residents under 12 years of age,
5) Non-resident foreign students registered at one of the National Universities,
6) Residents of Negros Oriental. They have to show proof to determine their status as residents of Negros Oriental to avail of lower rates.
There is a need to revise the fee structure of our national parks. Otherwise, that recent complaint of one irate tourist won’t be the last of it.
