Sports tourism events ‘disruption

fee’ for Panglao now on SP review

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PIA)—The ball now is in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Review of Municipal Ordinances and Related Issuances to put it on play or invalidate the ordinance that exacts a certain amount of “disruption fee,” in the conduct of competitive sports tourism events in Panglao.

Apart from the hassle which Panglao residents and non-participating tourists suffer from road closures, reroutes and delays which would be caused by such events, Panglao Municipal Ordinance No. 01, series of 2023 was purportedly passed to fund for the fuel and food allowance for police force, traffic enforcers, medical and emergency staff rendering extra service to marshal the events.

The ordinance, which is now amended and is up for SP review again sets up a collection of an organizer’s Fee which is equivalent to 5% of each participant’s registration fees, resident’s disruption Fee of P10,000 and a mayor’s permit fee of P2,000.

A co-organizer of one of the major sports events Sunlife 5150 Triathlon in Panglao, Andrew Gonzales said the July 2025 event generated an estimated ₱60 million income to the local economy from participants and their companions, and paid ₱194,912 for the disruption fees.

Meanwhile, Bohol International Marathon Organizer Michael Yu reported that the event which contributed an estimated ₱280 million to the local economy in 2024, paid ₱479,320 prior to the issuance of a Mayor’s permit, in accordance to the existing Municipal Ordinance.

However, Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Officer Dr. Anthony Damalerio reported that the Provincial Government provided the bulk of logistical and medical support during the 5150 Triathlon, including deployment of ambulances and 42 emergency responses.

Board member Jiselle Rae Villamor on the other hand, emphasized that fees collected should be earmarked for services directly connected to event facilitation such as the provision of medical teams, security, and traffic management, among others to ensure that there is value for money, to which Damalerio agreed.

The collection of fees for these events which are strategically scheduled during the off- peak season to boost tourist arrivals in Bohol, has concerned officials, including Board Member Lawrence Xavier Angcla, fearing that it could deter future organizers from holding sports activities in Bohol.

In comparison to other venues like in Cebu, BIM organizer Yu reported that marathon organizers paid minimal permit fees and were even granted financial incentives by the local government.

Provincial Tourism Council Chairman Atty. Lucas M. Nunag echoed the position of the organizers, stressing that in many destinations, governments even provide subsidies and incentives rather than impose additional fees to organizers, also citing that sports tourism is part of the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions sector that contributes significantly to tourist arrivals during off-peak seasons.

Panglao Vice Mayor Daisy Delambaca admitted that the ordinance was enacted, declared valid and operative by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in 2023, and that an amended ordinance to address the same complaints in now pending for approval at the SP .

Panglao councilor Francis Eric Delambaca, proponent of the amended ordinance said part of the amendments include the removal of the 5% participant’s fee, renaming of the ₱10,000 disruption fee to environmental fee, the retention of the 5% organizer’s fee and all other fees.

The amended Panglao ordinance was reportedly received by the Office of the SP Secretary on August 12 and was yet to be included in the agenda for the August 19, 2025 regular session and referred to the Committee on Review of Municipal Ordinances, who then indorsed the matter to the Provincial Legal Office for their legal review. (PIABohol)

FAST PACED RACES. The danger of a tourism marred by accidents due to unregulated traffic, lack of medical and emergency personnel and marshals during high speed sports tourism events like the SunLife 5150 Triathlon, and the imposition of fees which could deter the holding of future sports events is now in the hands of the ON SP Review Committee. (PIABohol)