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[av_heading heading=’Jetty port, PCG wary of tourists bribing boatmen amid storm ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JUN AGUIRRE
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BORACAY – Caticlan Jetty Port and Philippine Coast Guard officials were keeping a tight watch on coastal areas of Malay and this island resort as torrential rains brought by tropical depression “Urduja” continued to pour.
They were also wary of moneyed tourists who might bribe boat operators at the jetty port to bring them to Boracay despite the inclement weather.
Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2 was raised on Saturday over Aklan province, along with northern Antique, Capiz and northern Iloilo.
On Sunday the storm signal was lowered to No. 1 as “Urduja” moved with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour.
The Coast Guard suspended the trips of roll-on, roll-off vessels and boats going to and from Boracay. Administrator Niven Maquirang estimated the stranded passengers at the jetty port to be “around hundreds.”
During bad weather, some well-off tourists would reportedly pay boatmen large amounts to bring them to the island resort despite the rough seas or Coast Guard-ordered trip suspensions.
“We have not received reports on bribery yet” but were keeping tight watch of the boats, Maquirang stressed. “The [Coast Guard] and the Jetty Port administration cancelled all sea travels.”
Boracay-bound tourists continued to arrive in Aklan via the Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo town and the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, noted Jeff Quismundo of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
“We have advised the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and all our local tour operators to ensure the safety of tourists coming to and from Boracay,” Quismundo said./PN
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