LGU starts implementation of unified ticketing system in Boracay

Boracay Island-  The local government of Malay, Aklan began to implement a unified ticketing system in Boracay, Saturday, August 17.

Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista said in a phone interview that the Malay tourism office has released his Executive Order No. 32, which mandates tourists going through the Tabon Port to pay environmental and terminal fees through a Boracay app or through eBoracay.

Foreign tourists are asked to pay P300 for environmental fees, while P100 for domestic tourists. Terminal fees are pegged at P100 each. Residents bearing identification cards with addresses in Aklan are exempted from paying such fees.

“This mandatory payment effective immediately is part of our broader plan for a unified ticketing system for Boracay to ease travel,” Bautista said.

Advisory confusion

The rollout of the new system also coincided with a port change announcement from the Philippine Coast Guard that added confusion.

In June, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) transferred the boat operation from Caticlan to Cagban to Tabo-Tambisaan Port because of the onset of habagat season.

But on August 17, the mayor said that they had received complaints from the tourists because of the unexpected announcement from the PCG announcing that the transfer will be done at the Caticlan port that day instead of the Tabo Port.

Citing the weather forecast from PAGASA, Coast Guard Lieutenant Junior Grade John Lawrence Banzuela said, “With coordination from the provincial government, LGU (local government unit) Malay and the CBTMPC (Caticlan-Boracay Tranport Multi-purpose Cooperative), please be informed that the trips of motorboat from Tabon port-Tambisaan Port will be transferred to Caticlan-Cagban Jetty Port and vice versa, effective August 17 at 6:00 am until further notice.”