Exempt non-resident Aklanons from terminal fees – SB Malay

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay urged the provincial government of Aklan to exempt non-resident Aklanons from paying terminal fees. 

Terminal fees are collected to each departing passengers in Cagban and Caticlan ports for P100 and roll-on roll-off passengers for P50.

                                PHOTO AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL

Residents of Aklan with valid identification (ID) cards, holder of valid terminal pass, children 5 years old and below and workers with valid company ID are exempted from paying the fees.

Aklanons or local workers in Boracay Island to avail exemption from paying terminal fees must present school ID, company, GSIS e-card, Unified Multi-Purpose ID, organization, passport, driver’s license, voters and postal ID.

SB  member Floribar Bautista pointed out the complaints of non-resident Aklanons in their regular session which was graced by Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Esel Flores and Port administrator Niven Maquirang. 

Other residents utilized social media – particularly Facebook – to air their sentiments and inquiries about Caticlan and Cagban  ports operations.

“Even if you are not residing in Aklan but you are born in Aklan, then, you should be exempted from paying the terminal and environmental fees,” Bautista said. 

Bautista also lamented that students from Malay who are studying in Iloilo or Manila and Aklanons in abroad are likewise charged of terminal fees even they are fluent in Aklanon or Malaynon dialects.   

Asked to comment on 'fake' IDs, Maquirang said they are also verifying and checking the IDs presented by every departing passengers before they are allowed to enter the pre-departure area.

"May mga workers pagdating sa port may mga IDs na at halatang peke. Nakasulat kamay pa. We are aware of it," he added.

Flores, who chairs the SP committee on laws and ordinances, also shared his experience with the SB members. 

“May mga pamangkin ako studying in Iloilo at nagpakita ng kanilang passports na nagbayad pa rin ng terminal fees,” he said.

Malay vice mayor Abram Sualog said barangay IDs issued by the barangay council should be included also in the list of acceptable IDs. 

Sualog said they will also lobby for the increase of salaries of existing personnel in jetty ports and to retain employees from Malay in the Aklanon lane to assist residents and locals before entering the pre-departure area.

“The increase of salaries is long overdue considering the revenue generated in jetty ports,” he stressed.

 

Among other ordinance amendments being sought by SB members is the age exemption from 5 years old to 12 years old, who could not present government-issued IDs when they enter the ports.

In 2001, the provincial government of Aklan adopted Section 4 of Caticlan Jetty Port and Passenger Terminal administrative code, stating “all residents of the province of Aklan are exempt from paying the terminal fees upon presentation of a current community tax certificate” and “non-residents but owners, operators, workers and employees of business establishments in Boracay Island are exempted from paying the terminal fees upon presentation of a terminal pass issued by the provincial government of Aklan.” 

Maquirang said Section 4 of the administrative code was revised by General Ordinance No. 2011-004 adopting the Revenue Code of the Province of Aklan approved in year 2011, which requires valid identification cards for all departing passengers utilizing Caticlan and Cagban ports. 

The article was originally published by independent online blog Aklan Forum Journal. The unrestricted use in print or radio, publication and distribution of articles are allowed provided the original author and Aklan Forum Journal are credited.