Anda is a rising eco-tourism hotspot in Bohol with beautiful beaches, but the town’s beauty has been tainted by the controversial road entrance fee being collected by the LGU from Filipino taxpayers and foreign tourists. (Contributed photo)

Concerned citizens and resort owners in a town in Bohol have considered seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in order to prohibit the town’s officials from collecting entrance fees at a national highway.

Aside from the move to lodge a TRO case, Anda Bohol Tourism Organization Inc. (ABTO) told media sources they would also request the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bohol to junk Anda’s Sangguniang Bayan Ordinance No. 21-2020 which imposes P30 entrance fee per person to all visiting the town.

ABTO said there are residents and businessmen in the town who have signified their interest in filing abuse of power charges against Anda Mayor Angelina Simacio and members of SB before the Office of the Ombudsman for implementing an allegedly illegal ordinance which they also branded as “highway robbery.”

On March 30, ABTO stakeholders held a meeting with Anda SB members to resolve the controversial road entry fee. 

During the meeting, municipal kagawad John Deligero stated that the local government unit (LGU) of Anda will continue to collect P30 entrance fee as per tarpaulin posted in the road as his legal basis. 

For Kagawad Mario Alonzo, he requested that before an amendment on the ordinance is made, “we have to observe at least 6 months to 1 year” of road collection. 

During the meeting Municipal Treasurer Pedro Castrodes failed to present figures of income out of road entrance fees from March 1, 2023 to March 29, 2023. 

As shown in a viral video, Kagawad Deligero was fuming in anger, warning resort owners of unfavorable consequences if they wage war against the LGU.

Ignoring an earlier order of Gov. Aris Aumentado to halt road collection in Anda, Deligero invoked local autonomy, saying the governor should not get involve in this issue and allow them however they want to rule the town without interference by the provincial government.

Aumentado recently ordered Anda LGU to stop collecting at national highway.

However, there was no action until early this week in compliance of the order of the governor, ABTO officers said.

SP OPINION

According to Province’s SP Secretary Boni Quirog, the ordinance in Anda was once referred to an SP committee. 

Then the committee referred the ordinance to the Provincial Legal Office (PLO). 

He was quoted as saying that it was not true that there was no action by the SP. 

LGU Anda’s defense that there was no action by the provincial SP within 30 days is invalid, Quirog said.

Their interpretation of the Local Government Code is wrong, and they should have consulted with a lawyer, Quirog said in a news report.