MALAY, Aklan – The boat fare for the Caticlan-Boracay route of Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) will remain unchanged in these challenging times.
Public transport numbers in Malay and Boracay Island plunged sharply due to Covid restrictions. Despite this, the boat transport cooperative had continued to run its diesel-fed boats.
CBTMPC chairman Godofredo Sadiasa cited escalating costs of diesel and maintenance of the 27 fiber-glass hulled boats in their decision not to adjust the fare despite full passenger capacity being allowed in boats under Alert Level 1.
“Crude oil has risen nearly 30 percent and our wooden-hulled boats have phased out, we owe the bank for fiber-glass boats and we pay interest even with a pandemic for the modernization of boats. The P25 fare they are asking for is three years ago,” he stressed.
CBTMPC has applied for a 25 percent increase in boat fare from P40 to P50 last year. On January 16, 2022, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) allowed CBTMPC to charge their passengers P50 for regular boat fare and P40 discounted fare for students, senior citizens, and discount cardholders.
While there will be no boat fare adjustment, CBTMPC continues its reliable services for the safe travel of tourists, laborers, and residents as they did before the pandemic.
In 2019, CBTMPC gradually shifted from wood to fiber-glass reinforced boats through government financing.
Sadiasa said the cooperative, with almost 300 boatmen, is targeting three more fiber-glass hulled boats to operate this year in anticipation of the influx of tourists./PN
