PAY YOUR ARREARS!
Prov’l Capitol warns ro-ro vessels
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
Prov’l Capitol warns ro-ro vessels
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
MALAY, Aklan – The provincial government of Aklan has given three roll on, roll off (ro-ro) shipping companies until the end of this month to settle their arrears that go way back to 2005. The arrears in berthing fees have reached millions of pesos.
Non-payment would result to the vessels’ being refused berthing or docking at the Caticlan jetty port and terminal here.
Provincial Treasurer Evan Timtiman identified the shipping companies as Starlite Ferry Inc, Montenegro Shipping Lines and Philharbor Ferries and Port Services Inc.
These shipping firms’ ro-ro vessels should have been refused berthing on September 1 yet. But Gov. Carlito Marquez and Cong. Florencio Miraflores agreed to give them another chance.
“Their continued failure to settle their dues will result to the enforcement of the order refusing the vessels of these shipping companies berthing rights at the Caticlan jetty port.
Non-payment would result to the vessels’ being refused berthing or docking at the Caticlan jetty port and terminal here.
Provincial Treasurer Evan Timtiman identified the shipping companies as Starlite Ferry Inc, Montenegro Shipping Lines and Philharbor Ferries and Port Services Inc.
These shipping firms’ ro-ro vessels should have been refused berthing on September 1 yet. But Gov. Carlito Marquez and Cong. Florencio Miraflores agreed to give them another chance.
“Their continued failure to settle their dues will result to the enforcement of the order refusing the vessels of these shipping companies berthing rights at the Caticlan jetty port.
Caticlan jetty port, managed by the provincial government under the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD), plays a key role in the tourism industry, and serves as a direct link for the Batangas-Caticlan route of major vessels in the western seaboard.
Marquez earlier denied the province is “imposing exorbitant berthing / docking fees on shipping companies utilizing the Caticlan jetty port for the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) of the national government.
Jetty port administrator Nieven Maquirang also lambasted allegations of shipping operators that the province is demanding P1,000 per hour at the port and an additional P1,000 charge in excess of the allotted one, despite the law that mandates payment of P200 per calendar day.
Maquirang explained that the provincial ordinance enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan provides a fixed rate of P1,000 / two hours for the unloading / loading of cargoes, vehicles and passengers by roll-on roll-off vessels. An additional fee of P100 is charged in excess of two hours.
“The shipping companies should pay their arrears since 2005 to the provincial government to allow us to settle our obligations with the jetty port contractor,” the governor said.
Caticlan jetty port, a major jump-off point to the famous island resort of Boracay, was constructed and funded through a flotation of Aklan-Boracay bonds underwritten by a government bank during the term of former President Joseph Estrada.
Jetty port administrator Nieven Maquirang also lambasted allegations of shipping operators that the province is demanding P1,000 per hour at the port and an additional P1,000 charge in excess of the allotted one, despite the law that mandates payment of P200 per calendar day.
Maquirang explained that the provincial ordinance enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan provides a fixed rate of P1,000 / two hours for the unloading / loading of cargoes, vehicles and passengers by roll-on roll-off vessels. An additional fee of P100 is charged in excess of two hours.
“The shipping companies should pay their arrears since 2005 to the provincial government to allow us to settle our obligations with the jetty port contractor,” the governor said.
Caticlan jetty port, a major jump-off point to the famous island resort of Boracay, was constructed and funded through a flotation of Aklan-Boracay bonds underwritten by a government bank during the term of former President Joseph Estrada.
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