Boracay to get 15 new electric tricycles

The municipal government of Malay will launch the Electric Tricycle (e-trike) Program in this island resort on January 17.

At least 15 new units of e-trikes will be made available to beneficiaries of the program, said Dante Pagsuguiron, former Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member of Malay.

The Malay government had undertaken the program to do away with conventional tricycles in the island.

Unlike traditional tricycles, which are fueled with gasoline, e-trikes are powered by rechargeable batteries and thus more environment-friendly and energy-efficient.

Tricycles are the major mode of transport in Boracay.

“During the launching, there will be a signing of a memorandum of agreement between representatives of the BPI Globe Bangko, [the municipal government of] Malay and the  Gerweiss [Motors Corp.],” Pagsuguiron said.

Among those expected to participate in the launching are representatives of the Boracay Foundation Inc. and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., and the e-trike operators.

Designed and manufactured by Gerweiss Motors Corp., these ecologically friendly vehicles will replace conventional tricycles as the main mode of transportation in Boracay, Pagsuguiron has said in an interview last year.

The former SB member has said the Malay government will gradually phase out conventional tricycles until 2015, when the e-trikes will “dominate” the island streets.

Built ideally for the island resort’s terrain, the fiberglass-made e-trikes could accommodate 10 passengers each.

E-trikes are powered by rechargeable batteries.

Pilot charging stations will be put up in Brgy. Manoc-Manoc, near the fire station, and in Sitio Diniwid, Brgy. Balabag, Pagsuguiron has said./

DOT-WV hopes to lure more Chinese tourists in 2014

 The Department of Tourism (DOT) is hoping to lure more Chinese tourists in Western Visayas this year.

In an interview Friday, DOT regional director for Western Visayas Atty. Helen Catalbas said that in 2013, an estimated 300,000 Chinese tourists visited the region.

"The bulk of this is in Boracay where more than 200,000 Chinese tourists were recorded. We are still finalizing the number of other key tourism cities in the region," said Catalbas.

Aside from Boracay, she said Chinese tourists are also attracted to different cities in the region because of the different festival-celebrations, particularly in Iloilo and Bacolod cities. Chinese tourists also opted to celebrate their annual New Year, which is on January 31 this year, here in the region.

The DOT is also studying other tourism potentials in Western Visayas which can attract Chinese tourists to visit the region.

"We are now prepared for an aggressive tourism campaign among Chinese tourists since Chinese group tours resumes its normal operation last year after it was suspended in 2012," Catalbas said.

NGO reports 10 most common environmental complaints in Boracay

The Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative (SPC), a non-government organization (NGO), said Thursday it had listed down the Top 10 environmental complaints of both tourists and residents that had been reported to them in 2013.

Jojo Rodriguez of the SPC said that most of these complaints were referred to the attention of the Boracay Action Center, the Philippine National Police and other government agencies.

The top 10 most common complaints were: stray dogs at the beach; irregularities on fishing tours among foreign tourists; existence of fishing nets among the dive sites; discriminating tricycle drivers; lagoon is dead; littered plastic bottles all over Boracay; illegal parking of motor bancas at the front beach; illegal fishing methods; oil slick and tar at the beach and boats passing near the swimming areas.

In 2013, the SPC partnered with the Globe Telecom in the establishment of a hotline center where both tourists and residents could report an environmental concern. The hotline number is 09177202583 (Code Blue).

Once the hotline center receives the SMS reporting an environmental concern, it then transmits the message to concerned agencies for proper action.

Koreans still top Boracay visitors in 2013

South Korean tourists still continue to dominate this resort island for the past years with Chinese and Russians increasing their numbers.

In a document provided by the Caticlan Jetty Port Wednesday, Boracay received 615, 508 foreign tourists arrivals for 2013. The figure is much higher as Boracay only registered 473, 286 in 2012.

"It is encouraging to know that Boracay still continues to lure foreign tourists despite the typhoon 'Yolanda' that hit the resort island in November 8, 2013," said Maquirang.

Korean tourists reached 208, 665; followed by Chinese tourists which registered 200, 794; Taiwanese, 39, 706; Russians 19, 407; USA, 19, 316; Australians 16, 889; Singaporeans 11,102; Japanese 7,726 and 7,700 from Hong Kong.

In 2012, Taiwanese tourists came in second; visitors from mainland China is in the third; USA at the fourth spot; fifth were Australians; followed by Russians; Sweden; Hong Kong; Germany and Japan.

The figure also indicates that the month of February where foreign tourists arrivals is at its highest (65,815) in 2013. It was followed by the months of August (63,995) and July (60,727).

Official clarifies cause of glitches at jetty port

 The jetty port administration has explained the glitches that happened Monday morning as both foreign and local tourists complained of disorder at the passenger terminal.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said that they have remedied the situation and addressed the complaints. Disorder occurred at the jetty port after the implementation of the "No Sticker, No Entry Policy" among public transport drivers here.

"We have been telling tricycle drivers to renew their respective permits as early as November 2013 but many of them failed to comply. The implementation is supposed to happen on January 1 but we have given them another week to do so but still many of them disobeyed," said Maquirang.

The jetty port administrator started to implement the "No Sticker, No Entry Policy" at the jetty port Monday, January 6.

Records from the jetty port revealed that only around 60 percent of the tricycles in the resort island were able to comply with the accreditation requirements.

"We still continue our accreditation services for tricycle drivers. Once they have complied with the requirements they will be given a sticker which they will be using as entrance to the jetty port," said Maquirang.

Tricycle drivers often get inside the jetty port compound to pick and drop passengers bound for Boracay Island.

Russians, Koreans rescued in Boracay boat collision

At least two Russians, three Korean tourists and 12 Filipino passengers were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after two boats collided in this resort island Monday morning.

Coast Guard officer Pedro Taganos, acting station commander of the PCG-Caticlan, identified in an interview the foreign tourists as Logan Cruz and James Scott (Russians); Mika Kambe, Akihira Kambe and Koi Kame who are Koreans.

The foreign tourists including a Filipina identified as Andrea Stone were onboard the speedboat of MBCA Boracay Regency when it accidentally collided with a motor boat MBCA Nonoy carrying the other Filipino passengers.

Taganos said that at least two Filipino passengers onboard the MBCA Nonoy suffered minor injuries in the accident which happened at around 6 A.M.

The collision took place around 300 meters off Caticlan Jetty Port.

"Banca operation still continues in Boracay despite the accident," said Taganos.

The PCG continues to conduct an investigation on the accident.

Boracay tourism remains 1.5M tourists target for 2014

The Aklan provincial government pegged 1.5 million tourists target for 2014 after failing to achieved it this year.

Niven Maquirang, Caticlan Jetty Port administrator, said Thursday that for the year 2013 Boracay received 1,367,767 both foreign and local tourists. The jetty port administration currently still tallies either Korean or Chinese tourists ranked first for top 10 highest tourism arrivals for the year.

Despite the shortage of target, Boracay tourism this year is considered highest while 2012 tourism arrivals registered at 1, 206, 252. The Aklan provincial government also earns P 299, 552, 491.71 in terminal fees and local taxes.

"The onslaught of the super typhoon 'Yolanda' is the primary reason why we have failed to achieve the target. Several foreign and local tourists cancelled their room reservations because of this," said Maquirang.

For 2014, the Aklan provincial government are anticipating the arrival of at least 10 international cruise ships which is considered a big boost for tourism in this resort island.

Meanwhile, for this year the Department of Tourism (DOT) will be officially promoting this resort island as ‘haven for cruise ship destination.’

DOT officials said they are expecting at least 10 international cruise ships this year, which is considered an unprecedented feat for Boracay history.

The DOT is also expecting the arrival of some 300 Canadian nationals this January to visit this resort island.