Paraw, island hopping operators pleading to operate in Boracay

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Sailboats (paraw) and boat island hopping operators sought the intervention of Malay Sangguniang Bayan members to convince the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) to allow their members to operate when Boracay Island re-opens on October 26.

PHOTO AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL

Mike Sinel, president of Malay Sailboat Operators Incorporated (MASBOI), said the ‘no paraw’ regulation in Boracay waters will affect 160 paraw owners and more than 700 members.  

“Apektado din ang pamilya namin sa ganitong sitwasyon kung wala ng paraw. Willing kami na i-regulate kami ng local government para maayos ang operations ng mga paraw sa Boracay,” Sinel said.

Municipal Ordinance No. 189 enacted on April 2, 2003 allows only two sailboats at a time to park at Station 1, 1b, 2, 3 and 3b in White Beach.

However, five sailboats are allowed to park at Station 2 between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Last week,  paraw and boat island hopping operators were pleading with Environment Undersecretary Sherwin Rigor to bring back their operations in the island.

“Nagrereklamo raw ang mga turista na tinatakpan ang popular na sunset view dahil sa dami ng paraw sa main beach. Dahil walang mag-eendorse sa amin baka tuluyang mawala kami sa isla,” Sinel said.

Aside from MASBOI, the Boracay Island Hopping Association (BIHA) led by president Rigoberto Gelito with 280 members and 1,000 workers also sought the help of Sangguniang Bayan on October 16. 

“Dapat bigyan natin ng protekyon ang ating mga workers, mga taga Boracay at Malay, at may strong stand din dapat ang local government sa itong reopening ng Boracay,” town councilor Dante Pagsuguiron said.

Malay town vice mayor Abram Sualog urged the BIATF to listen to the heartfelt plea of displaced workers of BIHA and MASBOI.

“Hindi naman tama na mawala ang mga paraw. I-regulate ang paraw, may municipal ordinance tayo para maayos ang paraw. Kaparte ang paraw sa mga atraksyon ng Boracay noon pa man,” he said.

Sualog said the local government of Malay will establish a mooring area that will allow five paraws and island hopping boats to park in station 3 at a time. The mooring ordinance is presently pending with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan. 

Town councilor Jupiter Aelred Gallenero said "just imagine, if more than 2,000 individuals will bedisplaced even Boracay opens to tourists." 

"Hindi natin pababayaan ang mga kababayan natin. Big loss din sa mga operators ng paraw at bangka dahil malaki din ang kanilang investments. Dapat kasamasila sa development ng Boracay," he added.