City officials requested the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), through lawyer Rhenan Diwas, to prepare a feasibility study relative to the proposed increase of environmental fees at the Botanical Garden within sixty days upon approval of the said request.
Under Resolution No. 618, series of 2022, local legislators stated that after considering the manifestations and suggestions, it was agreed that a thorough study on the proposed environmental fee increase for the sustenance of the Botanical Garden be conducted first for everybody’s guidance before finally acting on the proposal to increase such fees.
Earlier, the city’s legislative body during its December 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 No. 18, series of 2016, otherwise known as the 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 manifested that the proposed increment on environmental fees to be collected at the Botanical Garden is purposely to recoup the increased various expenses incurred for the maintenance of the amenities within the park.
Botanical Garden is one of the major parks in the city that is frequently visited by both residents and tourists alike following its upkeep that was implemented during the pandemic that paved the way for it to have an improved landscape.
The council pointed out that the results of the feasibility study will be used to guide the members of the city legislative body 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 to the Botanical Garden is reasonable or for the same to be adjusted based on the outcome of the proposed study.