COA to Kabayan tourism group: Give P7.9 M fees to LGU

KABAYAN, Benguet -- The Commission on Audit has ordered a private cultural and tourism group in this town to transfer over P7.9 million it collected for three years from tourists to the municipal government of Kabayan.

The Mystical Kabayan Tourism Culture and Arts Council Inc. (MKTCAC), which was reportedly organized by Kabayan Mayor Faustino Aquisan, was ordered to stop collecting cultural and green fees from mountaineers visiting Mt. Pulag located here.

Aquisan is running for vice governor in Benguet.

The COA ordered municipal treasurer Janice Pucay to assume collection of fees from the group.

State auditor Nadelline Orallo said the collection has not been remitted to the coffers of the municipal government.

Records showed that in 2011, the municipal government implemented an ordinance seeking to collect fees from mountaineers and tourists visiting the mountain.

In the same year, the mayor, along with municipal employees and officials, reportedly established a non-stock, non-profit private association, which they named the MKTCAC.

In a complaint filed in 2013, anti-graft advocate Mary Grace Bandoy said Aquisan created the municipal tourism, culture and the arts council, which had the same function and purpose as that of the MKTCAC.

The council was also composed of the same officers.

Bandoy said since 2013, the municipal government has not reported any income from the green fees despite the growing number of tourist arrivals.