We went to Apo Island the other day, and it appears that locals only pay 10% of the sanctuary fees over there. And all you need to be considered a local as far as they said is to prove that you pay your trash-tax and some local expenses in Dauin. They called it a Cedula... As we live in Dauin we will set out to find out what we need to obtain this mystery Cedula...
A cedula is the spanish word for an identification card. During spanish times, it was required for all natives to have the cedula on their possession at all times. In the event a native cannot present his cedula to a Guardia Civil (similar to the present day PNP), he can be detained. Nowadays, as I understand it, the cedula refers to a community tax certificate. All citizens are required to present their cedula when they have a document to be notarized, takes an oath of office, pays a tax or fee and to get a 90% discount off the Apo Island sanctuary fees
Apo Island Fees Simple... Tourist entrance fee to the island P100 Dauin Resident P10 Add the Marine Sanctuary Fee: Tourist P50 Dauin Resident P20 Total: Tourist P150 Dauin Resident P30 We go over 6 people at the time.... approximately twice a month... 30*6*24 = P4320 With Cedula 150*6*24 = P21600 Without Cedula See the difference? I do... And I can spend that P17280 on something else every year...
