ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan — The City Tourism Office (CTO) here has lauded Executive Order (EO) No. 26 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, which provides the establishment of smoke-free environments in public and enclosed places, as it zeroed cigarette wastes in the waters of the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP).
Assistant Tourism Officer Rose Aruelo, in an interview Friday, said there was no cigarette waste collected during their latest underwater clean-up drive of HINP on Wednesday.
“We used to collect 1 kg. of cigarette waste every time we conduct our regular Scubasurero underwater clean-up drive. But since the smoking ban was issued and implemented, the number decreased until it has now zeroed,” she said.
Aruelo noted the HINP strictly implements the EO in the islands since it was issued last May.
“Hundred Islands is a no smoking area,” she said.
Aside from the smoking ban, Aruelo said the HINP also applies the “Basura Mo, Iuwi Mo” program.
“We give incentives to tourists who would bring home their own trash from the islands. Upon registration, we give them trash bags and collect PHP200 as a bond, which is refundable when they get back from the islands with their own trash,” she explained.
“Aside from their refund, we also give a gift certificate (good for two persons) that entitles them to free entrance and free environmental fee on their next visit. It has no expiration so long as the gift certificate is still intact,” she added.
The national park serves an average of 1,800 local and foreign tourists daily, and higher during weekends.
About 500 tourists visit the park during the slack season, particularly the rainy season, Aruelo said. (Hilda Austria/PNA)
