Boracay boat coop opposes Montenegro operationsBY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL / Panay News
Boat owners oppose the continued operations of Montenegro Shipping Lines in the island of Boracay. A motorized pumpboat of the Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) docks at Cagban jetty port in barangay Manoc-Manoc / PHOTO BY GEORGE CAWALING
BORACAY Island - The Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) is strongly opposing the continued operations of a big transport firm here.
In a manifesto furnished to Panay News, the group hit the Montenegro Shipping Lines for creating a “cut-throat competition” when it started its operation on August 8 with two sea crafts plying the Boracay-Caticlan route.
Godofredo Sadiasa, chairman of CBTMPC, said the Montenegro never secured business permit or mayor’s permit to operate within the municipal waters of Malay, Aklan to the disadvantage of 90 member-boats of CBTMPC.
Before the operations of Montenegro, CBTMPC is the sole transport group operating in Boracay Island and Caticlan since 1996.
"The existence of Montenegro threatens the CBTMPC that provides employment and livelihood opportunities to thousands of local folks serving as boatmen and cooperative regular employees," the manifesto said.
Montenegro sea crafts used to ply the Batangas-Calapan, Mindoro route.
PUSH TO THE WALL?
In a manifesto furnished to Panay News, the group hit the Montenegro Shipping Lines for creating a “cut-throat competition” when it started its operation on August 8 with two sea crafts plying the Boracay-Caticlan route.
Godofredo Sadiasa, chairman of CBTMPC, said the Montenegro never secured business permit or mayor’s permit to operate within the municipal waters of Malay, Aklan to the disadvantage of 90 member-boats of CBTMPC.
Before the operations of Montenegro, CBTMPC is the sole transport group operating in Boracay Island and Caticlan since 1996.
"The existence of Montenegro threatens the CBTMPC that provides employment and livelihood opportunities to thousands of local folks serving as boatmen and cooperative regular employees," the manifesto said.
Montenegro sea crafts used to ply the Batangas-Calapan, Mindoro route.
PUSH TO THE WALL?
The 2,000 CBTMPC members alleged that they are also being pushed to the edge of displacement and deprivation of earning a legitimate income in favor of the big firms.
"The feeling of deprivation was further aggravated by the fact that we have been in this livelihood even before Boracay became a by-word in the tourism industry. The livelihood is the only legitimate way we know in supporting our families and sending our children to school," they said.
International magazines hailed Boracay Island as one of Asia's premier attractions for great travelers around the region and an international tourism market for its pristine white sand beaches and natural beauty.
The CBTMPC said it has remitted P6.289 million in common carriers tax to the Bureau of Internal Revenue from December 2003 to the present and paid P200,000 to the local government of Malay for their business permits.
Sadiasa said the boat cooperative is also embarking on a self-recovery program to help boat member-operators repair their 52 motorized pumpboats destroyed by Typhoon 'Frank' on June 21.
"Despite all this, the CBTMPC was met by a giant competitor invited by the provincial government to provide a vessel that could operate the Caticlan jetty port-Cagban port," he said.
The entry of Montenegro, the manifesto stated, is basically anchored on the desire of the provincial government to collect the P50 terminal fee at Caticlan jetty port and another P50 at Cagban port at Barangay Manoc-Manoc on return trip.
“The provincial government is temporarily deprived of their terminal collections during the change of route from Caticlan jetty port to secondary ports of Tambisaan-Tabon during habagat," the CBTMPC said.
Once in Tabon port, a passenger going to Boracay Island pays P2 to the municipal government. In Caticlan and Cagban ports, tourists pay P100 terminal fee.
Sadiasa stressed that the Montenegro also violated Municipal Ordinance No. 223, series of 2005 or the ordinance requiring owners and operators of motorized vessels to secure franchise from the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay before operating within the municipal waters of Malay.
SAFE TRAVEL OF TOURISTS
"The feeling of deprivation was further aggravated by the fact that we have been in this livelihood even before Boracay became a by-word in the tourism industry. The livelihood is the only legitimate way we know in supporting our families and sending our children to school," they said.
International magazines hailed Boracay Island as one of Asia's premier attractions for great travelers around the region and an international tourism market for its pristine white sand beaches and natural beauty.
The CBTMPC said it has remitted P6.289 million in common carriers tax to the Bureau of Internal Revenue from December 2003 to the present and paid P200,000 to the local government of Malay for their business permits.
Sadiasa said the boat cooperative is also embarking on a self-recovery program to help boat member-operators repair their 52 motorized pumpboats destroyed by Typhoon 'Frank' on June 21.
"Despite all this, the CBTMPC was met by a giant competitor invited by the provincial government to provide a vessel that could operate the Caticlan jetty port-Cagban port," he said.
The entry of Montenegro, the manifesto stated, is basically anchored on the desire of the provincial government to collect the P50 terminal fee at Caticlan jetty port and another P50 at Cagban port at Barangay Manoc-Manoc on return trip.
“The provincial government is temporarily deprived of their terminal collections during the change of route from Caticlan jetty port to secondary ports of Tambisaan-Tabon during habagat," the CBTMPC said.
Once in Tabon port, a passenger going to Boracay Island pays P2 to the municipal government. In Caticlan and Cagban ports, tourists pay P100 terminal fee.
Sadiasa stressed that the Montenegro also violated Municipal Ordinance No. 223, series of 2005 or the ordinance requiring owners and operators of motorized vessels to secure franchise from the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay before operating within the municipal waters of Malay.
SAFE TRAVEL OF TOURISTS
In a letter to Montenegro General Manager Vicente Montenegro on July 3, Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez sought the assistance of the company to provide a big vessel that could travel safely during the habagat season.
"It is the primordial interest of the provincial government to provide the highest quality of transportation plying the Boracay-Caticlan route. A big vessel is the answer to the concerns of different organizations in the island requesting for a more convenient and world-class transportation during the habagat season," Marquez stressed.
Boracay tourist arrivals registered 400,000 for the first six months of this year, owing to the increasing number of Koreans and Chinese staying in the famous resort island.
The United Coops and Associations of Malay (UCAM) in 2005 opposed the entry of multinational firms like Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC) and AMPO Shipping Lines, saying that the operations of the two firms would have adverse effects on the socio-economic well-being of the people, particularly the existing public transport industry servicing the Boracay-Caticlan route.
"It is the primordial interest of the provincial government to provide the highest quality of transportation plying the Boracay-Caticlan route. A big vessel is the answer to the concerns of different organizations in the island requesting for a more convenient and world-class transportation during the habagat season," Marquez stressed.
Boracay tourist arrivals registered 400,000 for the first six months of this year, owing to the increasing number of Koreans and Chinese staying in the famous resort island.
The United Coops and Associations of Malay (UCAM) in 2005 opposed the entry of multinational firms like Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC) and AMPO Shipping Lines, saying that the operations of the two firms would have adverse effects on the socio-economic well-being of the people, particularly the existing public transport industry servicing the Boracay-Caticlan route.
2 comments:
Everyone still has a free choice on what transport they prefer to choose to use. Let the public decide by voting with there feet.
Finally the public have been offered a far superior service than they have had to suffer over the past years
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