By Claire Bernadette A. Mondares, DOST-STII
A study found that local tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP) an additional fee for resorts in Calamba City and Los Baños, Laguna could generate up to P159.2 million which can be used to improve the conservation of the groundwater resources in Mt. Makiling.
In a study titled “Potential Contribution of Tourism for Groundwater Conservation in Mt. Makiling, Philippines”, published in the Philippine Journal of Science (PJS), researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños examined the potential benefits of capturing the mean (WTP) of P75 per visit, for a proposed ordinance requiring a water user fee.
“While water is generally considered a renewable resource, groundwater is a special case because its recharge rate is variable. It can be as short as days or as long as hundreds of years. In the case of Los Baños and Calamba, almost all resorts use groundwater, which they pump from the ground for their pools and bathrooms. They do not pay for groundwater based on the volume they consume. This is cheaper than if they source water from the water district, which they will pay on a cubic meter basis,” Dr. Margaret M. Calderon said in an interview with the DOST.
Dr. Calderon is the leader of a project funded by the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Using an online contingent valuation (CV) survey, the researchers assessed the tourists’ awareness of water sources in Calamba and Los Baños and their willingness to pay for improved groundwater conservation.
Based on the study, a mean WTP of P75 was estimated. The water user fee can serve as an environmental fee that would be charged on top of existing resort entrance fees. The mean WTP was calculated from a model with bid amounts of P0, P10, P20, P30, P40, P50, P60, P70, P80, P100, P120, P140, P150, P160, P180, and P200 presented to the respondents of the study.
“It represents the amount that visitors are willing to pay to support water conservation efforts and the protection of Mt. Makiling, which supplies the groundwater and is heavily relied upon by the local tourism industry,” Dr. Vanessa M. Palma-Torres, one of the researchers, explained.
By multiplying the mean P75 by the three-year average number of resort visitors in Calamba, which has around 2,015,124 visitors per year, and 111,821 visitors per year for Los Banos, resort-based industries can generate up to P151.13 million and P8.39 million per year, respectively.
Under the CV scenario, this fee would be split, with 50 percent allocated to pool water quality maintenance and 50 percent to Mt. Makiling conservation.
Moreover, the team observed that the abundance of hot springs and hot groundwater sources in the area has led to the establishment of numerous resorts in Los Baños and Calamba City that take advantage of the natural hot water in their swimming pools and baths. However, the rapid growth in resorts has significantly impacted groundwater resources due to the wasteful use of water by many resorts.
Given the results of the study, researchers encourage local government units (LGUs) of Calamba City and Los Baños to enact policies. The research team has already presented the results of the study to the concerned LGUs and the DENR.
“We strongly encourage the LGUs to adopt and leverage the findings of our study. Our primary goal is to inform local policies through science-based evidence. While this study offers important initial insights, we are also proposing a follow-up water accounting and policy advocacy initiative. This will enable a more comprehensive understanding of the water system, from source to end-users, and help guide sustainable water management strategies. Ultimately, we hope to support both water conservation efforts and the long-term protection of Mt. Makiling, the main water source for the area,” Dr. Palma-Torres said.
On the other hand, another study conducted by Dr. Calderon’s team examined how resorts in Calamba City and Los Baños use water, and the conservation practices they employ. In another publication titled “Groundwater Use of the Resort-based Industry in Laguna, Philippines,” researchers found that while most resorts check for leaks as part of their conservation efforts, only a few reuse wastewater from pools for landscaping or treat used pool water for reuse.
The researchers also added that many resorts, especially private ones, discharge used pool water directly into the streets, and most of them lack proper filtration or wastewater treatment systems.
“Conserving natural water resources, such as groundwater, is critical not only for human survival but also for the health of ecosystems that sustain life. As a researcher, I see water not just as a resource to be used, but as part of a larger natural system (like Mt. Makiling) that regulates and renews it,” Dr. Palma-Torres said.
Dr. Palma-Torres said the most fulfilling part of this study is knowing that its results can help inform local policies with real impact, and it has the potential to change the disconnect between water resource users and managers by providing a clear, evidence-based starting point.
The study appears in the April 2025, volume 154 no.2 issue of the Philippine Journal of Science (PJS), a publication of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), managed by the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (STII). The PJS is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions, Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph.
