BORACAY – The National Task Force Boracay ordered acting Malay mayor Frolibar Bautista to stop collecting pontoon fees from passengers of island-hopping boats.
Rehabilitation group manager Natividad Bernandino on Jan. 9 ordered Bautista to stop the scheme in response to the mounting complaints of tourists and residents for the past three weeks.
Bautista was also reminded that the local government unit of Malay should first get the approval of the task force before collecting user fees for pontoon operations.
Meanwhile, Malay town councilor Maylynn Aguirre-Graf said other complainants, who were engaged in water sports activities, questioned the legality of the pontoon fee collection which started on Dec. 21, 2019.
“Marami tayong natatanggap na complaints araw-araw sa pontoon fee, especially sa mga engaged sa water sports activities, tungkol sa legalidad ng operations ng pontoon,” Graf said.
The blue pontoon, measuring 100 meters from the shoreline is built near the boat stations in White Beach.
Last Dec. 5, Bautista issued Executive Order (EO) No. 51, directing all sea sports operators and associations in this island to use the pontoon bridge. It also imposed a P30 fee to passengers.
Of the figure, the municipal government of Malay, Aklan will earn P4.50 per issued ticket and the rest will be shared by the barangays of Manoc-Manoc and Balabag, the private company who owns the pontoon, and the water sports associations.
“May pontoon para ma-regulate natin ang mga bangka at mga operators, lalong-lalo na ang mga water sport activities sa beach front,” Bautista said.
Recently, the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, Aklan has called for an extensive review of the EO, to tackle the complaints and to look into the controversy on pontoon fees.
Town councilor Nikkie Cahilig also urged the complainants to attend the committee hearing.(With a report from Akean Forum/PN)
