BY VENUS G. VILLANUEVA
BORACAY - “I was amazed by the great change. Now all I can see is the long stretch of the long, white beach, the clean, blue waters free of pump boats.”
“There is now an orderly system in entering and leaving the island. Tourists and local residents alike can feel safe and comfortable.”
“I can now enjoy swimming without fear of encountering a moored pumpboat and getting hurt, or encountering flotsams and undesirable wastes that might be emitted by vessels passing near the island.”
These were just some of the happy comments heard from tourists and visitors who had been to Boracay Island lately and had seen the positive changes brought about by the implementation of the “One Entry, One Exit” policy in the island.
Fully implemented on February 15, 2007, the Provincial Ordinance, “An Ordinance for the Preservation, Protection Security and Safety of the Provincial Tourism Assets and Resources” directs that any seacraft is prohibited to embark or disembark passengers anywhere around the island except at the Cagban Port in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.
Passengers, tourists and guests going to Boracay island now embark at the Caticlan Jetty Port and Passenger Terminal and submit to security check, inspection and for port clearance and disembark at Cagban Jetty Port. Bulk cargoes, construction materials, and others now use the Manoc-Manoc beach to and from Boracay.
On the directive of Gov. Carlito S. Marquez, Aklan PNP Provincial Director Police Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana reactivated the Task Force Bantay Boracay, which would strictly implement the ordinance.
The task force is composed of the Provincial Tourism Office, Caticlan Jetty Port Administration, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Ports Authority and Maritime Police.
Gov. Carlito S. Marquez said the ordinance is for the security of tourists and residents – as there is a need to establish a more systematic, orderly, safe and comfortable mode of transport from Caticlan Jetty Port to Boracay Island and vice versa.
Violators of the ordinance will be sanctioned with penalties, ranging from paying specific cash amounts for the first and second offense and for third offense – cancellation of accreditation permits will be effected.
Possessing illegal drugs, prohibited firearms/ammunition, explosives and the like have corresponding graver and heavier penalties including imprisonment.
In pushing for the strict implementation of the ordinance, the provincial government stressed that “time has come to finally streamline and put order in the movement of tourists, goods and transport services to and from the island and safeguard the tourist, guests and passengers from any undue harm while in the island.”
The full implementation of the “One Entry, One Exit” policy in Boracay island is seen here as Aklan’s essential counterpart to the just-recently signed Human Security Act of 2007 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The Aklan ordinance is in response to Boracay stakeholders’ fear that terrorists might enter the island and ruin the billion-peso tourism industry of the province plus lives and properties. The Human Security Act penalizes terrorism with life imprisonment without eligibility for parole.
“There is now an orderly system in entering and leaving the island. Tourists and local residents alike can feel safe and comfortable.”
“I can now enjoy swimming without fear of encountering a moored pumpboat and getting hurt, or encountering flotsams and undesirable wastes that might be emitted by vessels passing near the island.”
These were just some of the happy comments heard from tourists and visitors who had been to Boracay Island lately and had seen the positive changes brought about by the implementation of the “One Entry, One Exit” policy in the island.
Fully implemented on February 15, 2007, the Provincial Ordinance, “An Ordinance for the Preservation, Protection Security and Safety of the Provincial Tourism Assets and Resources” directs that any seacraft is prohibited to embark or disembark passengers anywhere around the island except at the Cagban Port in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.
Passengers, tourists and guests going to Boracay island now embark at the Caticlan Jetty Port and Passenger Terminal and submit to security check, inspection and for port clearance and disembark at Cagban Jetty Port. Bulk cargoes, construction materials, and others now use the Manoc-Manoc beach to and from Boracay.
On the directive of Gov. Carlito S. Marquez, Aklan PNP Provincial Director Police Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana reactivated the Task Force Bantay Boracay, which would strictly implement the ordinance.
The task force is composed of the Provincial Tourism Office, Caticlan Jetty Port Administration, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Ports Authority and Maritime Police.
Gov. Carlito S. Marquez said the ordinance is for the security of tourists and residents – as there is a need to establish a more systematic, orderly, safe and comfortable mode of transport from Caticlan Jetty Port to Boracay Island and vice versa.
Violators of the ordinance will be sanctioned with penalties, ranging from paying specific cash amounts for the first and second offense and for third offense – cancellation of accreditation permits will be effected.
Possessing illegal drugs, prohibited firearms/ammunition, explosives and the like have corresponding graver and heavier penalties including imprisonment.
In pushing for the strict implementation of the ordinance, the provincial government stressed that “time has come to finally streamline and put order in the movement of tourists, goods and transport services to and from the island and safeguard the tourist, guests and passengers from any undue harm while in the island.”
The full implementation of the “One Entry, One Exit” policy in Boracay island is seen here as Aklan’s essential counterpart to the just-recently signed Human Security Act of 2007 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The Aklan ordinance is in response to Boracay stakeholders’ fear that terrorists might enter the island and ruin the billion-peso tourism industry of the province plus lives and properties. The Human Security Act penalizes terrorism with life imprisonment without eligibility for parole.
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