Lapu-Lapu City Launches Probe into Tourist Overcharging Incident
A visitor to Lapu-Lapu City has sparked an official investigation after claiming he was overcharged nearly P15,000 during a trip to Barangay Mactan. The tourist alleged that excessive and undisclosed fees were imposed for island hopping, transportation, and other services, with city officials identifying three individuals as "canvassers" or middlemen involved in the scheme.
Details of the Alleged Overcharging
In an Instagram video posted on April 12, 2026, the tourist detailed his experience. He stated that he was initially charged P5,500 for an island-hopping excursion but later faced additional fees not disclosed upfront. These included P900 for visits to three islands for two people and P1,200 for two 10-minute jeepney rides. The tourist refused to pay the P900 island fee but reported being pressured into other costs.
He further claimed that he was asked to pay approximately P10,000 for beach trips, despite tourism officials noting standard rates of around P7,000 to P8,000. Additional expenses included P5,000 for a 15-minute parasailing activity, P1,500 for sea urchins and oysters he did not intend to purchase, and P1,600 on lunch, beer, snacks, and seafood for his group.
Expressing frustration, the tourist, on his sixth visit to the Philippines, said this was the first time he felt "scammed," citing double-charging and misinformation throughout the trip. He warned that such practices could harm the tourism industry, deterring future visitors. As of April 16, the video had garnered 413 reactions, 252 comments, 48 reposts, and 240 shares on Instagram.
Official Response and Concerns
Lone District Representative Junard Chan voiced serious concerns over the integrity of local tourism services, emphasizing that such incidents could damage the city's reputation. He criticized the excessively high charges for transportation, island hopping, and food, stating, "What they did is unacceptable." Chan highlighted ongoing efforts by the City Government and private stakeholders to attract more tourists, warning that this case could undermine those initiatives.
City Tourism Office head Garry Lao confirmed that authorities have identified three individuals allegedly involved. After learning about the complaint, which reportedly occurred near a supermarket in Mactan, Lao immediately coordinated with the Tourist Police. Information from other individuals in the area corroborated the tourist's claims. Lao noted that any penalties or further actions will be determined by Representative Chan.
Regulation and Oversight Challenges
While accredited tour guides in Lapu-Lapu City are monitored, Lao explained that some transactions involve "canvassers" who negotiate prices and add markups, often leading to overcharging. He advised tourists to coordinate directly with accredited guides, barangay officials, or the Tourist Police to avoid similar issues.
In a statement in Cebuano, Lao expressed concern over the timing, noting, "We understand that we are in the middle of a crisis, but we should not take advantage in ways that could damage our industry. Tourism is slowly recovering, we are slowly recovering, and it's unfortunate this happened." He added that steps are being finalized to strengthen regulation at the barangay level, including stricter oversight of tourism activities and standard pricing for services like island hopping and entrance fees.
Public Reaction and Broader Implications
Comments on the tourist's video reflected widespread concern. One netizen lamented that increasing cases of overcharging target visitors, pointing to weak support systems that distort Filipino values such as hospitality. The commenter stated, "It is deeply saddening and infuriating to see this happen and become normalized. Hospitality is supposed to be the national identity of the Filipino people, but systemic corruption has turned that warmth into a commodity."
Another commenter expressed disappointment, noting that such incidents make it difficult to trust fellow citizens during vacations due to experiences of exploitation. This public outcry underscores the need for enhanced measures to protect tourists and uphold the reputation of Lapu-Lapu City's tourism sector.
