Vendors at vegetation areas in Balabag beach front, totally prohibited come February 1

“Tanods” of Baranggay Balabag patrolled the beach front of their jurisdiction.

This is after Baranggay Balabag Chairman Lilibeth Sacapaño ordered them to remind the vendors regarding their agreement these past weeks.

In an interview with the Chairwoman, she said that they had an agreement with the Vendors Association that by February 1^st none of them will be vending at the vegetation area in Brgy. Balabag.

According to Sacapaño the vendors are aware, based on a Municipal Ordinance, that this is prohibited, and that they have only been given a privilege and were excused for quite a long time.

In fact, she is thankful that they (the vendors) understand that what they are aiming for is its long term effect on the island’s tourism.

The members of the Association themselves, the chairwoman added, concurred that selling at the vegetation area is actually an eye sore since they often are in a large group.

Meanwhile, although they had already set an agreement with the Vendors Association, she still ordered the “Tanods” to remind them again.

This is aside from the notice that they have sent to the Association.

Suspension of X-ray examination requirement for employees in Boracay, requested

“To suspend the x-ray examination as a requirement for employees in Boracay”

This is what SB Member Dante Pagsugiron is requesting.

In his privilege speech during Tuesday’s SB Session, Pagsuguiron expressed his concern that it causes difficulty to both the employees and employers.

According to him, the recent number of x-ray machines in Boracay is not enough to cater the many employees in the island, thereby causing such a delay in processing business permit renewals.

For this reason the Municipal Council will send a letter of appeal to the Mayor.

They find this X-ray examination as a reason of delay, more so that it takes about a week for its result to be released.

Plus heaps and heaps of other requirements are still needed to be passed.

Island Administrator Glenn Sacapaño to BAG Members: let’s help each other

Shortcomings in 2012 must be made up this 2013.

This is what Island Administrator Glenn Sacapaño has said during an interview regarding the first meeting of the Boracay Action Group or BAG this year.

After acknowledging and extending his gratitude to all the contributions of the private and business sectors and other members of BAG, Sacapaño expressed his message of encouragement.

He urged them to cooperate and help each other to maintain what the island has achieved such as becoming a premier tourist destination.

The Island Administrator believes that community’s oneness together with the BAG has a huge impact on the island’s development.

The Boracay Action Group has been of service for more than two years now since it was established from what was then the Boracay Action Team.

It is comprised of volunteers from different sectors such as the life guard, Boracay PNP, Coastguard, and Municipal Auxiliary Police among others.

P78 MILLION - CAGBAN & CATICLAN JETTY PORTS' BUDGET fOR 2013

The fund for the Cagban and Caticlan Jetty Ports is seventy eight million pesos (P78 Million) for 2013.

In the allocation given by the Provincial Government, almost thirty million pesos (P30 Million), according to Jetty Port Administrator Nieven Maquirang, will go to the salary for employees including security guards and utility personnel of the two ports.

Maquirang said facilities to be added this year will be metal detector or x-ray machine for the operation of the Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO) at Caticlan Port.

Aside from this, there will also be some structures to be made, hence the fund for the Jetty Port was allegedly increased from sixty million pesos (P60 Million) to P78 Million.

Meanwhile, with the use of the P78 Million fund, the provincial government is expecting that the target collection of two hundred sixty million pesos (P260 Million) for 2013 will be met.

The target collection in the previous year was one hundred eighteen million pesos (P118 Million).

Since during the month of May the Terminal Fee was increased, the target collection was met and the ports earned one hundred seventy five million (P175 Million) surplus.

4th Cruise ship to dock at Boracay, signals

The second and third cruise ships set to dock at Boracay are yet to come.

With this however, another luxury liner signals to visit the island carrying with it hundreds and even thousands of passengers.

As stated by Caticlan Jetty Port Administrator Nieven Maquirang, another cruise ship based in the United States intends to pass by the Philippines and has Boracay as a target destination.

The date of its arrival is yet to be scheduled.

Meanwhile at this moment, Maquirang said that they are continuously promoting the island to shipping companies, which are now one of Boracay’s target markets.

If this plan will pursue, the said ship will be the fourth cruise ship to visit the island.

The first two other ocean liners are expected to dock on February 28, and March 19.

Back in October last year, Caribbean cruise ship Legend of the Seas was first to dock in Boracay.