BORACAY ISLAND, Malay Aklan- The new police chief of the Boracay Special Tourists Police Office (BSTPO) is bent on enforcing the town’s anti-noise ordinance in response to various complaints by resort owners and guests here.
It was earlier learned that several resort owners complained that several of their guests have to leave their rented rooms in the middle of the night due to uncontrollable noise coming from disco bars here.
"We are now preparing to file charges against erring disco bar operators," said BSTPO chief, Supt. Samuel Nacion.
The fine for violation of the anti-noise ordinance was set at only P2,500.
Stakeholders said that while the Malay ordinance only limits disco sounds to 40 decibels, the volume of some of the disco bars along Balabag area has reached 71 decibels.
The decibels indicate the ratio of a physical quantity (usually power or intensity) relative to a specified or implied reference level. Decibel is usually used as a measurement in science and engineering, mostly in acoustics and electronics.
BORACAY — Amid the threat of typhoon Bebeng, hundreds of foreign and local tourists celebrated the first Panagat Festival in Buruanga, Aklan.
Competitions were held during the week-long festivity.
Among these were the boat paddling race and the fishing contest.
Most of the participants to these competitions were local fishermen and boat operators in Aklan.
The racing of fishermen from Buruanga town to nearby Boracay in a seven-kilometer route symbolize the extension of Aklan tourism brought about by the so-called Boracay magic, Vicky Ramos-Antonino of the Aklan Provincial Tourism Council said.
“One of our thrusts is to look for an alternative tourism destination to encourage tourists coming to Boracay to explore other areas as well. We are doing our best to accomplish this,” said Antonino.
Ariel Abriam, a businessman based in this resort island, said he partnered with the municipal government of Buruanga to organize the festival as he also promised to support the event every year.
“We believe in the town of Buruanga as an additional tourism attraction for Boracay tourists,” Abriam said.
He also expressed gratitude to the support of the Aklan Tourism Council, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and the media for “making the event a success.”
Buruanga, a fifth-class municipality in Aklan, supplies fish to Boracay.
Many of the town’s residents are fishermen and boat operators. (photo by Dexter Ree, Aklan Kamera Organization)
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is currently preparing for the security of the first roadside "Panagat" Festival in nearby Buruanga town.
Ariel Abriam, one of the organizers of the festival, said the presence of PCG during the festival is important since part of the activities is the Arie's Point Cup, a six kilometer rowing on May 7.
"There will be P45,000 cash prices, 25 cases of rums, 200 souvenir t-shirts, 20 cases of softdrinks, color television and other prices. The Sports Unlimited Channel of ABS-CBN will also cover this event," said Abriam.
Local boatmen and Buruanga residents are expected to benefit from the festival. According to Abriam, he assisted in the organization of the festival to extend tourism industry from Boracay to the said town.
Buruanga Mayor Quezon Labindao has also expressed support to the festival.
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay -- The Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) is not joining the protest rally set by different transport groups Monday and Tuesday.
Godofredo Sadiasa, CBTMPC president, said that they are not connected with any national transport strike, and that they are not too much affected by the rising oil prices as that their cooperative is getting oil supplies directly from the oil refinery and get cheaper prices of oil.
"We in the CBTMPC see the need to transport tourists everyday to ensure that they will not be stranded and that they would enjoy their vacation in this resort island. There is no stopping of our operation despite the transport strike," said Sadiasa.
The CBTMPC said that they have not increase the fare for the last four years and do not have plans to increase the current rate. All the members charge P25 daytime fare and P30 at night for each tourist coming to and from Boracay.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Aklan Integrated Transport Group Incorporated (FAITI) will be joining the transport holiday in support to their colleagues in the transport sector. But the group clarified they are not demanding any fare hike.
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay Aklan- The Malay council is eyeing the possibility of halting the operation of helmet diving in this resort island after a Taiwanese tourist nearly died recently after experiencing a freak accident.
Helmet diving, also known as reef walking, is supposedly for professional scuba divers only but it is considered one of the tourist activities in this resort island.
Helmet diving experts said that some of the gadgets of the heavy helmet often provide communication risks between tourists and the operators.
Helmet diving is often described as walking underwater for 30 minutes. Tourists are usually attracted to this because they will have a chance to explore the underwater scenery of Boracay which involves watching corals and colorful varying fish species.
Tourists are usually being transported through a water taxi to a location appropriate for helmet diving.
The Malay council has received reports that there were numerous freak accidents on helmet diving in the past and are investigating them. This is part of the council's effort to stop the helmet diving operation if proven they are found causing risks among foreign and local tourists.
Helmet diving is also dangerous for people with heart problems, asthmatic attacks and pregnant mothers.
BORACAY ISLAND-- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) continues its relentless campaign against illegal drugs here after receiving report on the proliferation of both illegal drug pushers and users in this resort island.
PDEA regional director Paul Ledesma said that they continue to focus in areas usually being flocked by tourists.
For the month of April alone, at least three drug suspects were arrested by the PDEA. All of them are residents of Manila and are working as tattoo artists.
Furthermore, he has already instructed his men to verify if there is an existing drug laboratory in nearby Nabas area town.
"We assure the media that we will be transparent with our illegal drug operation in Boracay," he said.
BORACAY – An American squad made up of breast cancer survivors hope to make a big splash when it competes for the first time in the 5th American Tourister International Dragonboat Festival firing off tomorrow here.
Known as the International Pink Sisters, the team is composed of 17 women paddlers from the US and four survivors from Manila.
They will be rowing together to the beat of the drum on a long canoe in a bid to snare the crown in the 13-squad women's division.
A record number of 44 teams will seeaction in the three-division event – women’s, men's and mixed – making this year's event the biggest in five years, according to Nenette Aguirre Graf of the organizing Boracay Island Paddlers Association.
The event features two main races: 300-meter and 500-meter.
Aside from the International Pink Sisters (USA), the other squads competing are Dragons of North America, Filipino Dragons (Singapore), Sydney Fire Dragons, The Royal X-Team (Hong Kong), The Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team, Onslaught Racing Dragons, Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team, Manila Wave Club, Boracay All Stars, Boracay Bombshells, Boracay Guardians and Guardians of Bumshells.
Touted as the biggest water sports event in the country, the event is presented by the Department of Tourism while the title-sponsor is American Tourister, an internationally-known American brand of suitcase./
