Council to parks office: Bare study on upped Botanical Garden fees

BAGUIO CITY – The City Council urged the City Environment and Parks Management Office, through lawyer Rhenan Diwas, to prepare a feasibility study relative to proposed increase of environmental fees at the Botanical Garden within 60 days upon approval of said request.
    Under resolution 618, series of 2022, councilors said after considering suggestions, it was agreed a thorough study on environmental fee increase for the sustenance of the Botanical Garden be conducted before increasing fees.
    Earlier, the city’s legislative body during its Dec. 5, 2022 regular session approved on second reading after publication the proposed ordinance that amended Section 31 on the user fees and rentals for the use of parks, open spaces and amenities of the Botanical Garden of ordinance 18, series of 2016, known as Environment Code of Baguio City and prescribing environmental and entrance fees to guests and tourists as proposed by the CEPMO.
In the deliberations, the CEPMO said the proposed increment on environmental fees to be collected at the Botanical Garden is to recoup expenses for maintenance of the park.
    Botanical Garden is one of the major parks in the city that is frequently visited by residents and tourists following its upkeep implemented during the pandemic that paved the way for it to have an improved landscape.
    The council said results of the feasibility study will be used to guide the council in deciding whether the fees amounting to P100 for every adult tourist and P25 for residents of the city which will be collected as entrance fees is reasonable or for the same to be adjusted based on outcome of the proposed study.