Tourists cry foul over ‘exorbitant fees’ at Kawasan

CEBU, Philippines —  A group of local tourists aired their gripe over what they labeled as “exorbitant and confusing fees” at the famed Kawasan Falls in Badian town, about 103 kilometers south of Cebu City.

One of them, Edgar “Jie-Jie” Indino Jr., questioned why an additional P300 per head must be paid in going to the third level of the falls when, he said, it is very near the second level. He said they were surprised to learn of this policy because it was not imposed “three weeks ago.”

Indino told The FREEMAN that their eight-person group was not made aware of such fee when they paid their entrance fee of P55 per head.

What baffled them, he added, was that the in-charge at the ticketing station did not have an idea about such additional fee.

“Wala mi nibayad pero niadto mi sa 3rd falls nga walay guide para save money ug naa sad koy kuyog nga cousin nga guide sad sa Kawasan,” he said, adding he heard that some even collected a fee of P500 per head, especially from foreigners who were going to the third-level falls.

Another netizen posted a video questioning why they were not allowed to bring their own life vest to the falls and that if they used their own, they were still required to pay 50 percent.

“Naa man mi life jacket unya di diay pwede makadala? Kay ingon tong laki mangayo sila og 50 percent. Mura og kung magdala og life vest, dili sila ka kwarta,” the netizen said.

Indino said that the management collects P50 rental fee for every life vest.

The netizen in the video also asked why hiring a tour guide is mandatory for every five individuals going to the falls for a fee of P200.

“Dili na man mi kinahanglan og tour guide. Ika-100 times na man mi sige balik-balik anang Kawasan Falls,” the netizen said.

Indino also questioned why water tubing activity now costs P300 to P350 per head when it was only P100 before. Also, another P200 is reportedly required for the tour guide for every group composed of five individuals.

Yet he said the prices also differ, especially among visitors from Luzon and foreigners.

Miscommunication

Sought for comment, the tourism officer of Badian, Donald Villarin, said there was only a “miscommunication” that happened.

Villarin said guests to Kawasan Falls usually decide which of the two packages they would take.

Package A, which is good for first-level falls only and good for seven guests or fewer, includes the entrance fee of P55 per guest, vest rental fee of P50 per guest, and P200 tour guide fee for three hours of tour guiding service. Guests, Villarin said, are allowed to bring their own vests, though it was unclear whether they will still be charged any fee for this.

Package B, on the other hand, costs P350 per guest, inclusive of the P55 entrance fee, P50 life vest rental, P20 fee for the slides and swing, P25 share of Barangay Matutinao, and P12.50 each for barangay Balhaan and Sulsogan. This also includes the net tour guide fee of P175 per guest and association fee of P30.

Unlike Package A, Package B is for all routes in Kawasan -- from the first-level falls to second and third levels, even up to Kabukalan spring source.

Villarin said these new rates, including the fees for tour guides, were set when Kawasan Falls was reopened on May 1 after it was closed for a year because of COVID-19 pandemic.

“If Package A ra ang iya i-avail, Kawasan Falls first level ra siya kutob. If Package B ang iya i-avail, the guest, pwede siya molahos from first level to second and third level (Kawasan spring source). Ma-enjoy niya ang experience similar to half course canyoneering. Mao ni ang amo new offer nga Kawasan activity nga gitawag og upstream Kawasan adventure. Pwede niya ang waterfalls jumping, sliding, swinging, bathing and sightseeing,” Villarin explained.

As for the complaint of the netizen in the “video,” Villarin said their group paid for Package A but wanted to avail of Package B.

“Ang sayop niya kay if mohatag sila sa bayad sa Package B, gusto niya nga kinasingkasing lang. It means pwede ra siya mohatag og any amount like 20 pesos. It's totally wrong. Tourism is an enterprise. It's an economic activity. We have official rates to follow,” the tourism officer said.

Villarin also cited the same reason – that tourism is an enterprise – why there was an increase in the rates of water tubing activities.

“The alleged P100 fee was only a promotional rate. The blogger (in) the video knew only of the promo rate of 100 and not the regular rate,” Villarin said.

Badian residents, including senior citizens and children 6 years old and below, can enter Kawasan Falls free of charge. — Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMD (FREEMAN)