World Wildlife Fund

User Fees: Scuba Diving in Mabini, Batangas, Philippines

The many reefs and clear waters of the Philippines make it an ideal diving locaiton
© WWF-Canon / Vin J. Toledo

Abundant in coral reefs and eye-catching fish, Mabini, Batangas, the Philippines, has long been a haven for scuba divers. Yet pollution and exploitation from unregulated human activity threatens the municipal waters, which lack an adequate system for resource management and protection. To combat these pressures, WWF's Conservation Finance program, working with WWF-Philippines, helped establish a dive fee system whereby revenue collected is allocated directly to coastal resource management activities.

The system designates three types of fees: a Diver's Daily Pass (P50), an Annual Diver's Pass (P1000), and an Annual Dive Professional Pass (P700). Divers have the option of paying the pass on their hotel bill, or by registering at the municipal tourism office. Divers found without the pass are subject to confiscation of gear, redeemable after paying a P2,000 fine. Boatmen found ferrying divers without passes are subject to a fine of P1,000.

A Coastal Resource Management Board (CRMB) has been created to ensure that fees collected go towards funding the conservation, protection, and management of Mabini municipal waters. The Board is composed of representatives from the local government, NGOs, and recreational diving associations, thus engaging the various stakeholders of the region. Activities supported through the CRMB include implementation of marine sanctuary policies, waste management programs, and enforcement patrol.