An ordinance mandating tourism establishments in Bacolod City provide monthly statistical reports to the Bacolod City Tourism Office or face fines passed the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on its third and final reading earlier this week.

The legislation, penned by City Councilor Em Ang, requires “tourism accommodation establishments,” namely travel agencies, resorts, museums, galleries, and “identified” tourism sites, to provide the Bacolod City Tourism Office monthly statistical reports, which the ordinance describes as a “standard tourist statistics data format.”

Upon receipt of each report, the business will be issued a tourism clearance.

Businesses found in violation face a P500 penalty on their first offense; P2,000 on their second; and P5,000 on their third, along with the suspension of their business permit for three months.

All fines collected go towards the city government./PLL, WDJ