Bohol PB, tourism body plaint vs "bad" fastcraft services

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — The Bohol Provincial Board approved a resolution in support of the Provincial Tourism Council's call to improve the worsening services of fastcrafts plying the Tagbilaran-Cebu route and other neighboring islands.

The resolution, unanimously approved during the recent session presided over by PB Member Dionisio Balite, came in the wake of numerous complaints lodged by tourists and the public against fastcraft companies.

PB tourism committee chairperson Godofreda Tirol, in an interview after the session, said she was elated over the approval of the resolution because a lot of problems in the ferry services have to be resolved.

These fastcrafts are liable because they have breached the contract in ferrying passengers to their respective destinations, said Tirol.

She cited an incident when a fastcraft, bound for Dumaguete City, failed to reach the port on time with the passengers not knowing the cause. There were allegations also from the passengers that they were not take care of by the company.

The PTC, for its part, has earlier passed an unnumbered resolution requesting DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas to order an investigation into the operations and sea worthiness of fast ferry companies.

Among the complaints, enumerated in the PTC resolution were "frequent delays in departure and arrival, dirty and smelly toilets with no toilet paper, overbooking, poor sanitation and maintenance in the passenger areas, unreliable engines and other operational lapses."

It also cited the recent burning and eventual sinking of a fastcraft plying the Tubigon-Cebu route that resulted in three deaths including a crew member.

The resolution said that comfort and safety of the riding public and upgrading the services in accordance with the standards of common carriers must be of paramount concern of these companies, "which are key components of a competitive tourist destination."

The PTC also asked Roxas to order the MARINA "to be more vigilant in requiring compliance by fast ferry companies with relevant laws and regulations" and those who found violating these must be penalized.

The PTC resolution was signed by its chairman Lucas Nunag, and presidents of various groups, Marietta Gasatan of the Bohol CCCI, Fred Araneta of Bohol-Tri-media, Pamela Gallardo of Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants, Marie Antonette Bolo of Bohol Federation of Travel and Tour operators, Elvira Sarmiento of Bohol Society of Travel Agents, Ruel Joseph Familiar of Bohol Island Tour Guides of the Philippines, Teresa Mapute of Kahugpungan sa mga Bol-anong Guides, Reynaldo Monreal of Bohol Society of Tourism Officers, Josue Deliso of Bohol Tourist Services Multi-purpose Cooperative, and Cris Auguis of Association of United Transport Services Inc. (FREEMAN)