NEW ETDF (Eco-Tourism Development Fee) RATES AND ETDF MANAGEMENT BOARD
The local legislature, through Municipal Ordinance 01 Series of 2024, has enacted a new law establishing the Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF) for visiting tourists at 400 pesos (regular rate). This rate represents an increase from the previous rate of 200 pesos, which had been in effect for over twelve years.
The following new ETDF rates will go into effect from June 1, 2024.
Resident: 400 pesos (200 for Palaweños)
Filipino Government Employees: 400 pesos (200 for Palaweños)
Filipino Students: 300 pesos (100 for Palaweños)
Senior Citizens & Differently-abled Individuals/ PWDs: 320 pesos (160 for Palaweños)
Children 6-13: 250 pesos (150 for Palaweños)
Children below 6 years old: FREE
El Nido residents are FREE
The previous ETDF legislation allocated funds to various governmental departments and retained the remainder in an account, requiring departments to apply for grants to access these funds.
The new ETDF legislation aims to establish a more transparent and participatory process for investing ETDF funds. A newly formed Eco-Tourism Management Board, comprising members from the municipal government, barangay government, tourism council, and Civil Society Organizations, will oversee the allocation of the annual ETDF funds. This board will review and approve project and budget proposals, which will then be submitted to the local legislature/ Sangguniang Bayan for further review and approval.
Allocation of the funds will be as follows:
* At least 20% for tourism infrastructure projects
* 10% divided equally among the 18 barangays of El Nido
* 5% for tourism projects related to GAD (Gender and Development)
* 5% for Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for tourism and environmental disaster mitigation and preparedness (for example, typhoons and floods).
* 2% for Protected Area Management Office
The remaining funds will be allocated to environmental and tourism projects, including:
* Municipal Tourism Office programs (tourism events, programs, trainings, etc.).
* Solid waste and coastal resource management, and environmental and natural resources conservation
* Other budget proposals through the ETDF Management Board process
Funds will not be allowed to go to the salaries of regular municipal employees (other than those in the ETDF office). In this way, funds will be preserved for infrastructure and environmental projects.
With the increased rates and an ETDF Management Board in place, we look forward to many more tourism infrastructure and environmental projects in the coming years!
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