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[av_heading heading=’‘Oplan Hawan’: No exceptions’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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Tuesday, January 24, 2017
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Police officers (clad in green) check the permit of vendors and commissioners at the beachfront in Boracay. LITZ BERDANDINO / AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL
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BORACAY – All vendors and “commissioners” operating without permit will be removed from the beaches.
Souvenir items, and brochures and similar marketing materials will be confiscated, too, authorities stressed.
“Walang name-dropping kung huhulihin. Walang exceptions,” said Senior Police Officer 1 Christopher Mendoza, police-community relations chief of the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC).
The BTAC, Philippine Army’s Task Force Boracay, beach guards, and auxiliary police were helping the local government of Malay in carrying out “Oplan Hawan.”
The crackdown was Malay’s response to complaints against vendors and commissioners (tour coordinators) operating without permit and taking advantage of tourists by charging them exorbitant fees.
Complaining tourists told the police vendors sell them items while they were sunbathing at the beachfront.
Meanwhile, some commissioners collect from them advance payment for island activities, only to leave them on their agreed schedule.
Using names of local officials and other influential people will not do erring vendors and commissioners any good, stressed Mendoza.
“We hope na lahat ay mag-cooperate,” he said. “Kung gusto ninyong maayos ang Boracay, mag-cooperate tayong lahat.”
Under Municipal Ordinance No. 2000-132, all vendors must have permit from the municipal government and must not approach or disturb tourists at the beachfront to offer goods and/or services.
Local and foreign tour guides were also advised to get accredited by the Department of Tourism.
Oplan Hawan started on Jan. 19. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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