Unified ticketing system now being implemented in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan - The Caticlan Jetty Port is now implementing the unified ticketing system in order to gain accurate data on the number of tourist arrivals coming to this resort island.

The unified ticketing system is implemented using a turnstile machine inside the Caticlan Jetty Port here.

"Through the unified ticketing system, we hope to have a better count of tourists visiting this resort island. In the past, some tourists are able to elude being counted by tourism officials because of certain reasons," Maquirang said.

Each coming tourist before entering the turnstile machine should pay for both terminal, environmental and boat fee in one counter. They then will be presenting the ticket to the personnel manning the turnstile machine before they could be allowed to pass through.

Aklan residents are exempted from paying the unified ticketing system as they will only be charged of a boat fare.

"Aklanons must however present a valid identification as proof that they are residents of the province," Maquirang said.

The Aklan provincial government hopes to achieve one million tourists at the end of the year 2012.

P1-B reclamation project in Caticlan under fire

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

RESIDENTS and officials of Malay town in Aklan staged a protest rally Tuesday against the P1-billion reclamation project in Caticlan village, gateway to Boracay Island.

Councilor Jonathan C. Cabrera said the provincial government did not consult the municipal government and Boracay stakeholders during the preparatory stages of the project.

“The provincial government rammed the project down our throats sans consultation despite the ill-effects of the reclamation to the shorelines of Malay and Boracay,” Cabrera said.

Cabrera said they mounted the protest after the contractor of the project began the site embankment works.

The municipal council of Malay has passed a resolution objecting to the project saying it will narrow the 1-kilometer channel between Panay and Boracay, resulting in erosion of the famed beach line of the island resort.

Cabrera said they are preparing a case against the provincial government and the contractor to stop the project.

Major business groups in Boracay – the Boracay Foundation and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – also urged the provincial government to stop the project and conduct more in-depth studies on its effects on the island resort.

The business groups said developments in the reclamation project will compete with establishments in Boracay.

The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) allowed last May 17 the provincial government to proceed with the first of five phases of the reclamation project in Caticlan.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has also issued an environment certificate of compliance to the project’s first phase on April 27.

The first phase, which will cost P260 million, includes reclamation of the 2.19-hectare shoreline of the village and development project at the northern end of the jetty port in Caticlan.

The entire project will be implemented in 10 years and has an estimated more than P1 billion covering 36.82 hectares in Caticlan and 3.18 hectares in Boracay. It will feature expanded jetty port facilities, reclamation of coastline areas, and the construction of commercial office buildings, a health and wellness center and other businesses. It would also restore the now eroded coastal zones and prevent erosion near the port.

Roger M. Esto, Aklan provincial planning and development officer, said the project would improve jetty port facilities for inbound tourists of Boracay Island.

Esto said the Environmental Performance Report and Monitoring Program (EPRMP) submitted by the provincial government to the DENR did not indicate any danger posed by the project to Boracay.

Nieven M. Maquirang, Caticlan jetty port administrator, said the provincial government plans to transfer Boracay-bound passengers to the new jetty port in the reclamation project. The existing Caticlan jetty port will serve passengers aboard roll-on roll-off vessels.

Maquirang said the Caticlan jetty port in 2009 accommodated 1.6 million passengers for Boracay and the nautical highway.

“The existing Caticlan jetty port was only designed to handle passengers for the island of Boracay, but, in 2003, the roll-on roll-off vessels started to operate in the jetty port,” he said.

Maquirang said the proposed reclamation project will cater to the increasing tourist arrivals of Boracay Island.

From January to October 2010, a total of 665,000 foreign and domestic tourists arrived in Boracay compared to 250,000 tourists in 2001.

The Aklan provincial government last year signed a bond flotation agreement with the Local Government Unit Guarantee Corp. and Philippine National Bank (PNB) Trust Banking Corp. to raise P260 million for the first phase of the project.

Balangay expedition team visits Boracay

BORACAY — The Balangay expedition team headed by first Filipinos who climbed Mt. Everest visited this resort island over the weekend as part of their 14-month saga in rediscovering the trails of history.

They included Boracay as part of their journey to trace the arrival of the ten Bornean datus in Panay during the 13th century, said Carina Dayondon, one of the three Filipinas who climbed Mt. Everest.

Aside from Boracay, they have also visited Antique province.

Ariel Abriam, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, welcomed the team.

"All kinds of people are welcome into this resort island," said Abriam, a retired naval officer of the United States Navy.

The Balangay expedition team comprises 39 crews divided into three balangays (boats).

They have traveled to countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, among others.

They left Boracay yesterday morning for a one-day sail to Mindoro province, and are expected to return to Manila on December 13.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the team was already in Caluya Island near Antique, Dayondon said in a text message.

"Please pray for us; we were being battered by strong waves here," said 32-year-old Dayondon.

The team reported that the Balangay Sama Tawi-Tawi, one of the three balangays, hit a coral reef, causing a gashing wound in their hull and water started to enter.

After going to Mindoro, they expect to pass through Batangas seas and will be docking at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Manila next week./

Do's and Dont's in Boracay to be released

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The local government of Malay, Aklan in cooperation with the Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) and other agencies are expected to come up with the Boracay Do's and Don'ts for the information of both the local residents and visiting tourists in this resort island.

Malay Councilor Jupiter Gallenero said that the publication is currently being deliberated at the council. Once approved, the Do's and Don'ts for Boracay will be posted in different airline companies, sea vessels and even in different hotels in Boracay.

"We want the tourists to know that we are strictly implementing based on the several ordinances passed for the sustainability of our tourism industry," he said.

Already, the local government and the BFI have written to the airline and vessel companies to allow the postings of the Do's and Don'ts for Boracay.

Among the local ordinances that are being implemented are the no-smoking, no-littering and no-eating of foods at the beachfront in this resort island.

Earlier, stakeholders have agreed that drinking of beer during parties in the beachfront are already allowed.

Balangay hopes to spur tourism in Mindanao

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- One of the three balangays now being used in the expedition of the Mt. Everest Team will be displayed in the Butuan Museum soon hopefully to spur the tourism industry of Mindanao.

For several years, tourism in Mindanao suffered setbacks following reports of terrorism scare and armed conflicts, among others.

Daniel Calo, of the Department of Tourism-Butuan and one of the Balangay crew, said that the Hong Ning Butuan one of the Balangay boats is expected for a homecoming in their museum before Christmas.

But before they return to Butuan, the three Balangays including the Butuan boat will be welcomed in Manila on December 13.

The Balangay expedition team is currently lobbying on President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and inviting him to go aboard the Diwata ng Lahi boat, one of the three Balangays that is being used in their expedition.

Already, Vice President Jejomar Binay, People's Boxing Champ and at the same time Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, former President Fidel V. Ramos and other dignitaries have confirmed their presence welcoming the Balangay expedition team in CCP Complex next week.

"After the much anticipated homecoming event, the Butuan boat will set sail alone back to the Butuan museum. The docked boat will then be used for tourism purposes in Butuan," said Calo.

The Diwata ng Lahi will be displayed in the National Museum while another boat named Balangay Sama Tawi Tawi will be used for another tourism purpose in Manila Yacht Club also in CCP Complex.

"We are confident that we could spur the tourism industry in Mindanao once the Butuan boat arrives in our Museum," said Calo.

Drinking at Boracay beach front OK’

BORACAY — Some stakeholders and the municipal government of Malay recently agreed that drinking beer be allowed at the beach front here.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Boracay, Boracay Foundation Inc., Boracay Solid Waste Management experts, local media and representatives from the Malay government held an emergency meeting following an incident involving several tourists.

The tourists were allegedly confronted by a member of the Municipal Auxiliary Policemen (MAP) and were given a citation ticket.

Upon their review of the municipal ordinance, the stakeholders realized that only eating food was prohibited at the beach front. Drinking was allowed.

The Malay government together with the MAP has been enforcing the ordinances in this resort island since December 2, creating a surprise to several stakeholders here.

The ordinances include anti-littering, anti-smoking and no-eating at the beach front.

“We also agreed on a possible revision of the ordinance. Now, our focus is to prevent resort owners from placing tables and chairs at the beach front, especially during day time,” said Malay Councilor Jupiter Gallenero.

“We have also agreed that drinking should be allowed,” said Gallenero.

Since the ordinance does not prohibit drinking at the beach front, “then so be it,” said PCCI President Ariel Abriam.

Boracay Island commemorates World AIDS Day

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- This resort island will commemorate the World AIDS Day by holding a candle light ceremony on December 1 in cooperation with the Department of Health, local government of Malay and resort owners.

With a theme "Know yourself, Know your safe, Keep the Promise, Stop the HIV-AIDS", the commemoration will start at the Casa Pilar Resort through an AIDS symposium. Participants of the HIV-AIDS campaign include the transport drivers and boatmen.

After the symposium, an amazing race activity will be held in the afternoon for secondary school students in Boracay.

A candle lighting party will also be held in the evening at the Summer Place resort for everyone who is participating in the World AIDS Day activity.

According to Debbie Villaflor of the PHO, at least 18 positive HIV-AIDS cases were registered in the province.

Some 46 percent of them were Overseas Filipino Workers such as seafarers, land based contract worker and domestic helpers.

The World AIDS Day commemoration hopes to raise additional awareness to the residents of Boracay and act to prevent the disease from spreading.

Meanwhile, the DoH will also hold a free HIV AIDS testing center at the Malay Health Center on December 2. A free circumcision will also be held at the Malay District Hospital on December 3.