Mangyan indigenous group challenges Puerto Galera environmental fee policy

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Indigenous leaders from the Mangyan Alangan community have formally requested that the Puerto Galera municipal government reconsider its Environmental User's Fee (EUF) policy, which currently charges visitors P50 per person.

The community contends that the fee unfairly treats native Mindoro residents as tourists, particularly when they traverse different municipalities within the island for livelihood, cultural, and social activities. According to the Mangyan group, the policy fails to distinguish between external visitors and indigenous populations with historical ties to the region.

While the indigenous leaders acknowledged the municipality's conservation objectives, they argued that alternative revenue collection methods should be explored that do not place the financial burden on indigenous communities. The group indicated openness to supporting environmental protection initiatives, provided that implementation does not disadvantage native residents.

The petition underscores broader tensions between local government environmental policies and indigenous rights in the Philippines, particularly regarding resource access and mobility within ancestral domains. Puerto Galera officials have yet to issue a formal response to the community's request for a policy review.