The Manila Zoo reopened to the public after being rehabilitated, with visitors from Luzon provinces and even as far as Davao City in Mindanao were the first guests.
During the “Balitaan sa Harbor View” news forum, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said a senior citizen from Davao City told her that he would be staying in Manila for three days and Manila Zoo was his first destination.
Lacuna said an elderly man from Baguio City also went all the way to Manila to tour his grandson at the newly renovated zoo.
“Any visitor will not feel shortchanged owing to the new attractions at the zoo.”
The lady mayor said any visitor will not feel short changed owing to the new attractions at the zoo.
She said the entrance fee at Manila Zoo is considerably lower than other zoos in the country that reach up to P600 per head, or double the amount the former charges.
Lacuna’s spokesperson, Atty. Princess Abante, explained the entrance fee will be used to maintain the rehabilitated Manila Zoo.
“We need to make sure na ma-maintain ‘yung upkeep — ‘yung ganda ng Manila Zoo and number two napakamahal mag-alaga ng mga hayop, magagandang mga hayop ang nakuha natin ngayon,” Abante stressed.
Compared to other zoos, she said Manila Zoo can compete with Clark Zafari.
“This is not for profit eh, this is for maintenance.”
“So we need to balance it. This is not for profit eh, this is for maintenance,” Abante said.
Manila has an existing ordinance that provides the rate for visitors entering Manila Zoo.
Manila residents, kids and adults, pay only P150 while non-residents are charged P300.
There’s a special rate for students where Manila residents pay only P100 while non-residents are charged P200.
Senior citizens and persons with disability get a 20-percent discount while children 2 years old and below can enter for free.
The tickets are available online via manilazoo.ph.
The zoo operates from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with a cut-off of entry of guests at 6 p.m.
