Dumaguete Info Search


Oslob whale sharks, U.S. Government involved

Discussion in 'News and Weather' started by DavyL200, Jun 17, 2015.

  1. DavyL200

    DavyL200 DI Forum Luminary ★ Global Mod ★ ★ Moderator ★ Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

    Messages:
    3,968
    Trophy Points:
    401
    Location:
    On an island
    Ratings:
    +5,126 / 466
    TO ENSURE that the ecotourism activity in the southern town of Oslob is sustainable, the US Government has taken steps to help improve the whale shark-watching and feeding experience for both the tourists and the local fishermen operating the tours.

    The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is also assisting the Provincial Government in stopping wildlife trafficking in Cebu, which is a known transshipment point for different wildlife species.

    Joe Foltz, deputy chief of USAID’s Office of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, said they are discussing the whale shark-watching activities in Oslob with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Biodiversity Management Bureau in Manila. Technical assistance is being provided to find ways to make the activity more ecologically sound and sustainable.

    Whale shark tours attract attention | Sun.Star
     
  2. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

    Messages:
    13,106
    Trophy Points:
    451
    Occupation:
    FIRE
    Location:
    Valencia
    Ratings:
    +16,069 / 3,795
    Blood Type:
    O+
    Why is the Philippines government not doing this? Why is my tax money going to helping other countries boost their tourism industry? We have enough of our own problems at home, that money should be spent helping Americans.

    And this place charges 10 times the local rate for expats to see the whale sharks. Now that my tax money is being spent on improving the place I have a big problem with being charged more for the entrance.

    Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  3. MikeB

    MikeB DI Member

    Messages:
    75
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Argao
    Ratings:
    +81 / 8
    I think it's actually double for "foreigners", not 10x. The standard rate is 500, foreigner 1000 something like that depending if you just go out on one of their boats or swim. But I wouldn't patronize it anyway and I live pretty close. Besides the overcharging I disagree with the whole thing. JMO.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  4. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

    Messages:
    13,106
    Trophy Points:
    451
    Occupation:
    FIRE
    Location:
    Valencia
    Ratings:
    +16,069 / 3,795
    Blood Type:
    O+
    I thought entrance for locals was 100 and expats 1000.
     
  5. OP
    OP
    DavyL200

    DavyL200 DI Forum Luminary ★ Global Mod ★ ★ Moderator ★ Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

    Messages:
    3,968
    Trophy Points:
    401
    Location:
    On an island
    Ratings:
    +5,126 / 466
    Sitting in the boat and looking is p500 and p1000 if you want to snorkel with them. Halve it for locals.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  6. daanlungsod

    daanlungsod DI Member

    Messages:
    185
    Trophy Points:
    188
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Dumaguete
    Ratings:
    +83 / 11
    My wife & kids are locals, P50. They get evil looks when they show ID for the discount. I'm told that the current scheme is to enrich the current mayor and his cohorts.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  7. MikeB

    MikeB DI Member

    Messages:
    75
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Argao
    Ratings:
    +81 / 8
    No, and the sign says "foreign" or "foreigner", not "expat"- ie those who look different.
     
  8. Jack Peterson

    Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force

    Messages:
    9,078
    Trophy Points:
    451
    Occupation:
    Happily Retired
    Location:
    Northern Junob, Dumaguete City
    Ratings:
    +5,207 / 1,082
    My that' could be a job on it's own, to distinguish your client. this I would think, is a fix. I have a part of Azons family that Look most definitely different in that they are 1/2 Chinese and look it. but I don't remember them having to show ID's.
     
  9. denpet

    denpet DI Senior Member Highly Rated Poster Blood Donor Veteran Air Force

    Messages:
    581
    Trophy Points:
    186
    Ratings:
    +351 / 96
    Blood Type:
    O+
    It's common in the area. Went to a waterfall nearby, they also wanted twice the price, with a "half price for locals". Even after showing my ACR-I card that shows I'm a local resident, they refused. Not until I said I will remove their waterfall from the list of activities you can do while staying at Eden they let me in at the locals price.
    Has nothing to do with money (think it was 100p/50p) but I hate the principle of dividing people based on ethnicity.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  10. MikeB

    MikeB DI Member

    Messages:
    75
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Argao
    Ratings:
    +81 / 8
    If you're referring to Tumalog Falls the p50 is for the motorbike ride there and back (another 50), there is no charge to go to the waterfalls itself but there is a parking fee if you drive to the top, I think it was p20 as I remember. From there you can walk down but I tried it with flip flops and definitely wouldn't recommend it. I took a bike back for p50, probably the best p50 I've spent. When I was there everyone was being charged the same. There are no signs advertising "foreigner" price as there are at the whale shark thing.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
Loading...