PUERTO Galera, the diving capital of the Philippines, is home of white sand beaches and popular diving spots. (MJD Lodging Inn FB)
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The municipality of Puerto Galera in this province will soon implement an electronic pass identification system for all incoming tourists or travelers as part of its overall visitor protection and modernization policy.
Vice Mayor Rocky D. Ilagan, presiding officer of the town council, said the identification system which will be known as Puerto Galera Pass or PG-Pass is also aimed at creating an accurate database in the implementation of the environmental user’s fee (EUF) for tourists, guests, or travelers.
Under Municipal Ordinance No. 2025-030, an environmental fee amounting to P120 shall be collected from every tourist entering the town through its ports, borders, and other entry points.
All residents are exempted from the payment of the fee upon showing valid IDs or identification documents issued by the municipality for EUF purposes.
Ilagan said the identification system shall also serve as the primary data gathering for sustainable tourism planning, emergency response, and visitor management.
Tourists can also register online even before their scheduled trip to Puerto Galera with the new system and just show their PG Pass to be able to use the designated line for registered individuals.
The fee will be charged and shall be valid for the entire duration of the tourist’s stay and shall cover the period until final departure from any barangay within the town.
The ordinance identified six entry points as EUF collection sites – Villaflor Border, Sabang Port, Muelle Port, Minolo Port, Balatero Port, and Aninuan Border. A 20 percent discount will be given to senior citizens, Persons with Disability, and students above six-years-old.
The municipality started the collection of the EUF at P50 per tourist in 2004 to serve as a sustainable financing mechanism to support environmental conservation, waste management, and sewage treatment.