SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Disadvantaged boat operators and their boatmen on Mararison Island in Culasi town were given financial assistance by the Antique provincial government on Tuesday.
Noemi Tagle of the Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) said in an interview on Thursday that the provincial government extended financial assistance to help boat operators register their vessels with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), as well as for boatmen to obtain a license.
“The provincial government extended financial assistance so they would be able to comply with the MARINA requirement,” she said.
Juliet S. Nacion, MARINA Senior Maritime Industry Development Specialist in last month’s orientation on Modified Basic Safety Training (MBST), reminded boat owners to comply with the registration requirement, otherwise they are operating colorum pump boats.
They were also warned of possible stoppage in their operation if they could not beat the deadline, which is the end of this month, for their registration.
The provincial government gave the 142 boat operators and captains P5,000 each so that they would also have funds for their other needs in processing their documents. The boat registration costs P2,500, she said.
“The boat operators and boatmen were really glad of the assistance given them,”Tagle said.
She said that their office, aside from releasing the financial assistance, also conducted orientation on the different programs of the province.
The passenger vessels are transporting tourists from Lipata Port to the white-sand island of Mararison. (PNA)
