I recently assisted a travel agency serving as an interpreter for a Taiwanese group who will be bringing in a Rotary group of 200 person this Nov 2016 who said was going to sponsor a housing project as donation to the Philippine government.
While on the way, the guests were discussing about the mandatory tip of P500/boat to which the travel agency had informed the local organizer. We were informed that boatmen would not stop bothering guests until they get their tip and for that amount.
Reaching Pagsanjan, we went for tour to the falls. Accompanying us were English guide from the agency, Philippine rotarian counterpart, Taiwanese guests, and myself.
We boarded 4 boats. The English guide was on the 1st boat with some Taiwanese guests. I was on the last boat.
Midway, I noticed the 3rd boat stopped, and saw the gesture of guests giving money to the boatmen.
We reached the falls, again we were asked for money.
On our return, the 3rd boat stopped again, and was asked for money by the boatman.
When we all finished the tour, that's when I heard how the Taiwanese guests (3rd boat) stopped twice at midway, going and coming back, because the boatman asked for tip. Though somewhat unwilling, they opted to give, since they were afraid that the boatmen will do them harm for being cornered away from the rest. After the trip, the boatman, was fast gone.
I translated the matter to our English guide who in turn wrote a complaint letter to the boatmen association of Pagsanjan and the resort who arranged our boat, before we left back for Manila.
It's been a week and as expected, there was no action made.
The 2 hour boatride to and back from Pagsanjan already costs P1,200 each. We are 10 so that's P12,000. Tariff collected by local tourism. On top of this, the boatmen demands their P500/boat tip. I learned that the boatmen are already receiving P300/day salary from the municipal government.
Travel agencies sending tourists here as well as resort owners who book the boat with them, cannot do anything, despite complaints received over the years. This has been an ongoing pain for some years, what the..??
The agency who arranged our trip wrote a formal letter to our new Tourism Secretary about the matter, and we really hope that as promised by the new Philippine President, Mayor Duterte, corruption even in the tourism sector will be eradicated.
We hope the new Tourism Secretary, will also focus in solving existing, persistent and real problems in our Tourism, not only in Davao or Mindanao.
It's worth noting that The Department of Tourism prints brochures and is greatly promoting Pagsanjan Falls tour in international tourism trade fairs over the years. Thus, most tourists who come to Manila and are nature and adventure lovers, would normally include a trip to the famous falls.
With the current unruly tipping practice (the local tourism of Pagsanjan and boatmen association not addressing and instead tolerating the matter), the tour which should have been memorable, leaves with guests a not so pleasant memory.
Contributed by Christine Co 2016
