Children begging for food in restaurants, to be dealt with by the DOT

Written by Christy Dela Torre

Agencies in the government are looking for ways and means to solve the problem relating to children begging for food in restaurants in Boracay.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Boracay OIC Tim Ticar said that they are currently tackling the matter with the Local Government of Malay, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and even the Commission on Human Rights.

Children from ages 13 to 14, wandering about in food establishments begging for food and or leftovers from customers, particularly tourists, are becoming an eye-sore.

A situation where others begin to question what the authorities are doing about it.

Nonetheless, although the DOT is not taking the matter for granted, Ticar admits, that even the DSWD are having difficulties in controlling these children.

Once apprehended they are also being released right away because they are minors.

In line with this, Ticar advises restaurant owners and managers to drive the children away whenever they attempt to go in or entirely prohibit them to enter their food establishments.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

MTOur, identified areas for marketing and selling of Sea and Water Sports Activities in Boracay

Written by Gloria Villas

The Malay Tourism Office (MTOur) identified areas for the marketing and selling of Sea and Water Sports Activities in Boracay Island.

According to LGU Malay Chief Operations Officer Felix Delos Santos Jr., this is for the tourists to have ease whenever they wanted to engage in such sports activities.

Identified locations were Stations 1 and 3 in Boracay where sea and water sports are usually conducted.

Meanwhile, the MTOur aims for a more organized and standardized system for the mentioned activities on the island, more so that many major events are being held here.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

New Orleans Tourism Industry, shared experience and recovery from hurricane Katrina to Boracay

Written by Jay-ar Arante

The New Orleans Tourism Industry shared to Boracay how they recovered from hurricane Katrina that has swept the USA in the past.

Led by Brad Weaber and Kelly Schulz, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau was held at a popular resort at Station 1 Boracay.

Participants were shown pictures of the extent of the devastation that Katrina has brought to the state.

According to Weaber and Schulz, they recovered from the calamity faster through community cooperation in rebuilding establishments and livelihoods.

In line with this, the New Orleans Tourism Industry would like Boracay to model what they have done to get back up and revive tourism.

They also encouraged the island to get help from public consultants and or experts from private agencies or students from universities who deals with and studies disaster preparedness and recovery planning.

Meanwhile, those who attended the convention included Island Administrator Glenn Sacapaño, Ms. Mabel Bacani of the Redevelopment Task Force, the Department of Tourism, Boracay PNP, Philippine Coastguard, Red Cross Boracay and LGU Malay.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

MTOur, called for support from establishment owners about the unified rates of the Boracay Sea Sports Asscociation

Written by Gloria Villas

The Malay Tourism Office (MTOur) appealed for support from establishment owners.

The appeal is related to the suggested unified rates on Sea and Water Sport Activities in the Island of Boracay.

According to LGU Malay Chief Tourism Operations Officer, Felix De los Santos Jr., it would be advisable that establishments coordinate with the Municipal Tourism Office so that their guests would be given information and warning about illegal commissioners.

The information to be given to tourists will be on the standard operations of Sea and Water Sport Activities in Boracay.

Aside from this, the aim of the unified rates is for tourists not to fall victim to illegal commissioners.

On Monday, January 27, three (3) Korean students were reported to have been robbed by an illegal tour guide in the island.

Illegal tour coordinators and commissioners in the island are said to have been a long time problem of the local government and Department of Tourism (DOT).

Because of the matter, different programs are currently being implemented to put an end to incidents where tourists fall victim to such kind of illegal activity.

Translated/Edited by Rodel J. Abalus

Alleged illegal tour guide, stole from 3 Korean students; TREU dismayed

Written by Bert Dalida

The Tourism Regulatory Enforcement Unit (TREU) was dismayed after three Korean students fall victims to a theft.

The suspect was said to be an alleged illegal tour guide.

The victims asked the TREU’s help after the said individual took their belongings.

The Korean students were in tears as they were brought to the Boracay PNP to formally file a complaint.

According to them, they haven’t seen the suspect since he took with him their bags along with it their cell phones, money and other important things.

Aside from illegal vendors and illegal commissioners, that have long been the law enforcer’s problem, the TREU is also bothered about the increasing number of illegal tour guides in the island of Boracay.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

Uniform tents for sea sports outpost in Boracay, to be talked about today

Written by Bert Dalida

Uniform tents for sea sports operators in Boracay Island will be talked about Monday, January 27.

Boracay Sea Sports Association Vice President Russel Cruz said this in relation to the regulation of their tent at the beach front.

According to Cruz, the agenda will be on the size of the tent and site at the vegetation area for uniformity.

Allegedly, this is to regulate and tidy up their stalls so that the beach front of Boracay will be clean.

Cruz also added that they used to wander and the beauty of Boracay was being tarnished.

Meanwhile, he said even other associations at the beach front like their association will start to coordinate including diving associations and the Boracay Island Hopping Association (BIHA).

Also attending the meeting on Monday are the Boracay PNP, and the Malay Auxilliary Police-Boracay.

Translated/Edited by Rodel J. Abalus

MD Deutschland, to arrive early; other cruise ships, to follow

Written by Mackie Pajarillo

The arrival of MS Deutschland in Boracay will be earlier than expected.

This is according to DOT Boracay OIC Tim Ticar regarding the visit of another cruise ship next month.

Instead of March 7, the German luxury liner will arrive on February.

Ticar added that there are two expected cruise ship arrivals, but it is likely that there will be one or three more.

The DOT Boracay OIC said that the MS Deutschland’s schedule will be followed by MS Europa 2 on Feb. 8 and MS Costa Victoria on February 17.

Meanwhile, the DOT and cruise ship representatives will meet around the first week of February to talk about the preparations.

Two more luxury liners have said to express interest in visiting Boracay but the DOT has yet to confirm it.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

A group from New Orleans, to meet with different agencies in Boracay regarding disaster preparedness

Written by Jay-ar Arante

A group from New Orleans is to meet with different agencies in the island of Boracay this coming Monday and Tuesday.

This is in relation to the super typhoon that has swept the Visayas including the province of Aklan and Boracay in November.

According to DOT Boracay Officer-in-Charge Tim Ticar, the mentioned group itself called for the meeting to give concerned agencies tips on how to recover from the devastation of typhoons and other calamities.

It aims to help Boracay, more so that it is a world known tourist destination and is flocked by many people from around the globe.

Ticar added that the conference will be attended by a limited number of people led by Malay Mayor John P. Yap, Boracay Foundation Inc. President Jony Salme, PCCI Boracay President Ariel Abriam, Ms. Mabel Bacani of the Boracay Redevelopment Task Force, BTAC Officer-in-Charge P/Insp. Fidel Gentallan and the Philippine Coastguard.

New Orleans in Louisiana, USA was also beaten by hurricane Katrina in August 25, 2005 where numerous homes. Infrastructures and livelihoods were destroyed and many lives were lost.

Despite the massive damages the area recovered right away, reviving back its tourism and it is because of their disaster preparedness.

This is what the group wants for Boracay and the whole Aklan Province, to be prepared in order to recuperate from calamities faster.

Translated by Shelah Casiano