Travelers heading to Puerto Galera will soon be required to register under a new electronic identification system as the municipality moves to modernize visitor management and strengthen tourism-related services. Local officials said the initiative is designed to improve the monitoring of tourist arrivals while enhancing safety and administrative efficiency.
The digital platform, known as the Puerto Galera Pass or PG-Pass, will serve as a centralized registration system for incoming tourists and visitors. Authorities said the measure forms part of broader efforts to support sustainable tourism development and improve the collection of tourism-related data.
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Digital Registration and Environmental Fee Collection
According to Vice Mayor Rocky D. Ilagan, the new system will help establish a more reliable database for the implementation of the environmental user’s fee (EUF) imposed on visitors entering the municipality.
Under Municipal Ordinance No. 2025-030, every tourist entering Puerto Galera through its ports, borders, and other entry points will be required to pay an environmental fee of P120. Local residents, however, will remain exempt from the fee upon presenting valid identification documents issued by the municipality for EUF purposes.
Officials said the environmental fee will remain valid throughout a visitor’s stay in Puerto Galera and will cover the period until final departure from any barangay within the municipality.
The town government also noted that tourists can complete registration online before their scheduled trip. Once registered, visitors may simply present their PG-Pass and proceed through designated lanes reserved for registered individuals.
Supporting Sustainable Tourism and Visitor Management
Beyond fee collection, local authorities see the PG-Pass as a useful tool for gathering tourism data that can support long-term planning and emergency response efforts. The system is also expected to improve visitor management as Puerto Galera continues to attract both local and foreign tourists.
The ordinance identified six official EUF collection sites: Villaflor Border, Sabang Port, Muelle Port, Minolo Port, Balatero Port, and Aninuan Border. Meanwhile, senior citizens, Persons with Disability, and students above six-years-old will be entitled to a 20 percent discount on the environmental fee.
Puerto Galera has been collecting an environmental user’s fee since 2004, when the municipality imposed a P50 charge on every tourist. The fund was established as a sustainable financing mechanism to support environmental conservation efforts, waste management programs, and sewage treatment initiatives within the town.
For residents, businesses, and tourists alike, the new PG-Pass system could lead to a more organized and efficient travel experience while helping local authorities better manage visitor flows and protect Puerto Galera’s natural attractions. Improved tourism monitoring and environmental funding may also contribute to the long-term sustainability of one of the country’s most popular beach destinations.
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