The mayor of Lila town, Bohol has expressed hope that the provincial government will soon lift a ban on whale shark watching, a major tourism activity shut down earlier this year.
Mayor Atty. Arturo “Jed” Piollo said the attraction is vital for the economy and livelihood in Lila.
“I am fighting for the time the attraction will return and reopen to accept tourists,” Piollo said during a guest appearance on the DYTR program Newsmakers ug Uban Pa.
The whale shark interaction activities in the towns of Lila, Alburquerque, and Dauis were ordered closed by Governor Aris Aumentado in early 2025.
The closure cited violations of a provincial ordinance that prohibits the feeding of marine animals.
The provincial board, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, is currently amending the ordinance on marine animal interactions.
A proposed measure, authored by Board Member Lucille Lagunay, aims to establish new guidelines for the activity, which is seen as a potential key to its reopening.
Piollo acknowledged that the provincial board’s process could help improve safety and procedures.
However, he also contested the legal basis for the original ban, asserting that jurisdiction over municipal waters lies with local government units, not the provincial government.
“The local government unit has jurisdiction over municipal waters as defined under the Local Government Code,” Piollo said, explaining that he recently debated the point with an environmentalist during a provincial board hearing.
He contends that the provincial ordinance “should not exist in the first place.”
Despite the jurisdictional dispute, Piollo said his primary focus is on the timely resumption of the popular tourist activity, noting “there is nothing cast in stone” regarding a reopening date.