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BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
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Tuesday, June 13, 2017
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KALIBO, Aklan – Non-resident Aklanons should be exempted from paying terminal fees, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) said.
SB member Floribar Bautista pointed out the complaints of non-resident Aklanons in their regular session which was graced by Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Esel Flores and port administrator Niven Maquirang.
Other residents utilized social media – particularly Facebook – to air their sentiments and inquiries about Caticlan and Cagban ports operations.
“Even if you are not residing in Aklan but you are born in Aklan, then, you should be exempted from paying the terminal and environmental fees,” Bautista said.
Terminal fees are collected from departing passengers in Cagban and Caticlan ports for P100 each, and roll-on/roll-off passengers for P50.
Residents of Aklan with valid identification (ID) cards, holder of valid terminal pass, children 5 years old and below, and workers with valid company ID are exempted from paying the fees.
Aklanons or local workers in Boracay Island must present their school ID, company, GSIS e-card, Unified Multi-Purpose ID, organization, passport, driver’s license, voters and postal ID to avail themselves of exemption from paying terminal fees.
Bautista also lamented that students from Malay who are studying in Iloilo or Manila and Aklanons from abroad are likewise charged of terminal fees even if they are fluent in Aklanon or Malaynon dialects.
Asked to comment on fake IDs, Maquirang said they are also verifying and checking the IDs presented by every departing passenger before they are allowed to enter the pre-departure area.
“May mga workers pagdating sa port na may mga IDs na at halatang peke. Nakasulat kamay pa. We are aware of it,” he said.
Flores, who chairs the SP committee on laws and ordinances, also shared his experience with the SB members.
“May mga pamangkin ako studying in Iloilo at nagpakita ng kanilang passports na nagbayad pa rin ng terminal fees,” he said.
Malay vice mayor Abram Sualog said barangay IDs issued by the barangay council should be included also in the list of acceptable IDs.
Sualog said they will also lobby for the increase of salaries of existing personnel in jetty ports and to retain employees from Malay in the Aklanon lane to assist residents and locals before entering the pre-departure area.
“The increase of salaries is long overdue considering the revenue generated in jetty ports,” he stressed.
Among other ordinance amendments being sought by SB members is the age exemption from 5 years old to 12 years old, who could not present government-issued IDs when they enter the ports. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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