White Beach boat stations set as entry points

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Starting October 15, tourists and residents could choose Cagban port or boat stations 2 and 3 as disembarking areas to Boracay Island.

PHOTO AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL

The boat stations in White Beach were identified by Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force as temporary and alternate entry points for Boracay partial opening.

Since 2006, the provincial government of Aklan imposed an ordinance on one-entry one-exit policy to stop passenger boats in using existing boat stations in White beach as a drop off point or pick up point.  

But, for Boracay partial opening the boat stations in White Beach will be utilized to serve tourists and residents aside from Cagban port in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.

Caticlan jetty port administrator Niven Maquirang said boat stations 2 and 3 will be used only for day-time operations. Motorized pump boats and fast crafts will ferry passengers from Caticlan port to Cagban port only for night navigation.  

To assist tourists and residents, directional signages for their designated drop-off points will be installed also in Caticlan port.

“Ang mga dating boat stations sa front beach ang gagamitin dahil hindi pa natapos ang Boracay main road widening. May mga pontoon tayo sa mga nasabing boat stations. Isa lang ang entry point natin sa Caticlan port at hindi na gagamitin ang welcome center ng malalaking hotels sa Caticlan,” he added.

Maquirang said pontoon near Boracay Terraces Resort will also serve big hotels in the northern part of Boracay.

Last September 20, Environment secretary Roy Cimatu and Public Works and Highways secretary Mark Villar toured the Caticlan jetty port in mainland Malay in preparations for Boracay partial opening.

“Nag walk through sila kung saan papasok ang mga residente, turista at workers, kung paano kukuha ng tiket at saan sila sasakay papuntang Boracay. Galing sa Caticlan, ang mga workers ay doon ang sakayan sa reclamation area. May verification din, ang daungan nila ay sa Manoc Manoc cargo port. Ang residente at turista ng Boracay ay sa Caticlan jetty port ang verification at may separate lanes,” Maquirang added.

Maquirang also suggested that hotel bookings of tourists should be verified during their arrival in Kalibo and Caticlan airports.  

“May verifications ng bookings doon at kung ang hotel ng turista ay compliant para pagdating nila sa Caticlan port ay diretso na sila sa embarking area. No bookings on compliant hotels, no entry,” he added.

Only 19,000 tourists may be allowed to stay once Boracay re-opens on October 26 based on the island’s carrying capacity, the tourism department said.