By Danny Estacio
PAGBILAO, Quezon — The Quezon Zigzag Road, also known as “Bitukang Manok,” will soon charge fees on road users, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced yesterday.
Through a resolution passed by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Quezon Protected Landscape (QPL), all private and government vehicles will be subject to payment of a toll as they cruise along the roadway through the tri-boundary of Atimonan, Pagbilao, and Padre Burgos towns.
Flickr/Manila Bulletin
DENR Protected Area Supervisor (PASU) Ramil Gutierrez explained that the toll is also an environmental fee for entering the protected area.
The fees are pegged at P20 per vehicle or P500 annually as a one-time payment (issuance of a card for annual passers). Meanwhile, protected area entrance fees are set at P30 per adult and P15 for a student, but free for persons with disability, senior citizens, and children aged below 7.
Gutierrez said the fees shall cover sight-seeing in designated visitor areas, amateur video and photography and use of common facilities, also there are fees to be collected for parking based ranging from P20-P150 depending on types of vehicles and tour guide fees of P500.
Gutierrez told The Manila Bulletin that the toll gates in Pagbilao and Atimonan are already being constructed.