Are cruise ships paying anchorage fee in Boracay?

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BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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February 5, 2018
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BORACAY – With several luxury ships making port calls in this world-famous island, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay raises an important question: Are they paying anchorage fees?

According to SB member Maylynn Aguirre-Graf, the local government must assert its authority over its municipal waters – in this case by imposing anchorage fees on cruise ships visiting Boracay.

Visiting cruise ships must pay a P10,000 anchorage fee, according to the municipal tax ordinance.

Anchoring is securing a vessel by means of an anchor or an assigned anchorage by means of the vessel’s two bower anchors. Docking, on the other hand, is the collective service of placing a vessel alongside a wharf or pier.

SB member Floribar Bautista suggested that cruise ships must have a designated anchorage zone.

“Wala tayong designated anchorage area. Kung minsan malapit o malayo ang pag-anchor ng mga cruise ships sa Boracay,” he added.

By having an assigned anchorage zone, the corals in Boracay will be protected, Bautista stressed.

The SB is also verifying reports that a local transport company is charging the embarking and disembarking passengers of visiting cruise ships for using a “passenger boarding bridge.”

The SB invited Caticlan jetty port administrator Niven Maquirang, Municipal Tourism Operations OfficerFelix delos Santos, and Philippine Coast Guard and cruise ship company personnel in a meeting to discuss the issue.

Cruise ship tourism is gradually booming in Boracay. From Januray to June this year, at least 10 cruise liners carrying about 58,000 passengers and crew members will make 17 port calls in the island, according to the Department of Tourism. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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