Sagada’s tourism

HAPPY WEEKEND
Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province ---Vice mayoral candidate Richard Yodong says there is a need for an organized tourism industry in Sagada. Precisely.

A pressing concern involves a complaint of the Sagada Genuine Guides Association (SAGGAS) on the reported mismanagement of the Tourist Information Center printed earlier in Zigzag Weekly.

SAGGAS in a petition sent to Mayor Edward Latawan complained that center is not being managed according to Local Government Unit guidelines.

In the petition signed by some 150 signatories, they alleged that the center is functioning as a ‘private entity’. SAGGAS says that aside from two employees hired by the LGU, ‘other people’ are manning the information center. How is it possible that ‘other people’ are manning the IC apart from the LGU employees?

For years since the early ‘90s, environmental fees in the amount of P10 per tourist had been collected and managed by the SEGA (Sagada Environmental Guides Association). The LGU is now managing the collection of tourist fees.

In 2006, the Sangguniang Bayan instructed that collections be directly remitted to the coffers of the municipal government. It’s a welcome development that the LGU has assumed to take direct responsibility in collecting and managing tourist fees. And why it has not assumed to take direct responsibility for years is a question. Unless it has ---?

Anyway, if allegations are true that SEGA’s internal rules are “purportedly being imposed at the Center,” this needs a second look. Are these ‘internal rules’ going against LGU guidelines?

With the allegation that the TIC ‘was’ and is functioning as a ‘private entity’ and that “other people” are manning it commands immediate attention. If so, why is the center functioning as a ‘private entity’ and not a public entity? Also, ‘additional fees are collected from guides not belonging to SEGA’ is another question. What are these ‘additional fees’ and for what purpose, and are these additional collections allowed?

Where LGU rules are apparently, with impunity, not being followed shows a disorganized management of the town’s tourism industry with anyone being able to call the shots. It is a logical question what the chief executive has done to respond to this issue and what the Tourism Council also says.

The suggestion of some 150 signatories to the petition that recommendations from the Tourism Council be solicited prior to the issuance of letters of instruction, is in order. Such instructions also need a public hearing if necessary.

Further, where the tourist collections go is a pending question. While collections before LGU guidelines have been imposed may have their own merit of where it had gone, programatic directions of where the collections go, obliges Sagadians’ say of how tourism shall benefit the people of the town.

It is a welcome scenario to see how tourism benefits other barangays like Ambasing which hosts the much visited Sumaguing Cave and Bangaan, Fidelisan and Pide which hosts Bumod-ok Falls; and other barangays as well to benefit from tourism. As it is, the benefits of tourism are enjoyed by the business sector especially from the main town.

Entrepreneurs especially from the Poblacion area earn revenues from tourism. From the earlier accommodations including St Joseph’s Inn and Restaurant and Julia’s Inn, other hotels and guest houses have emerged to respond to the growing increase of tourists in this much visited town.

These include Sagada Guest House, Alfredo’s, Igorot Inn, Green House, Yellow House, Rock Inn, George’s, Travellers, Alapo’s, Mapiya-ao, Ganduyan, Masferre’s, Rocky Valley, among other homestays.

Restaurants have also been established with the much visited Yoghurt House, Log Cabin Cafe, and hotels having their own restaurants. Souvenir gift shops have mushroomed along the sidewalks from the main town to the frontage going down Sumaguing Cave.

These, aside from guides who also have benefited from their guiding expertise, including transport. The call of Yodong for an organized tourism industry to benefit the people of Sagada obliges attention.