THE Davao City Business Bureau Office (BBO) said that all chartered boats serving the route between Davao and the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) will be given until Wednesday, April 17, to secure a mayor's permit from the city government.
BBO officer-in-charge Marissa Torentera said the city is strictly implementing the “No Permit, No Sailing” policy due to reports that chartered boats plying from Davao City ports for the island hopping of local and foreign tourists are operating without the city permit.
Torentera said the office has not received any complaint from passengers affected with the policy.
"Maong timely kaayo ang pag-implement namo ani tungod sa aside sa Holy Week kon asa manguliay sila sa ilang tagsa-tagsang lugar, summer vacation nasab karon. Actually last year pa namo sila giingnan na magparegister kay karon baya tingdagsa baya sa mga bakasyonista (This is just in time for the Holy Week, which is a peak season for those having their summer vacation. We have been telling them (boat operators) to register since last year)," she said during the iSpeak media forum Tuesday, April 16, at the City Hall of Davao.
She said 44 boat operators have already complied with the necessary permits, including tourism permit from the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO).
The bureau official said these operators had already been told to register somewhere between November and December last year. But only a few complied.
Torentera said initially, these operators hesitated to comply with the policy, saying that they had already permits from the Igacos government and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
But she said, "Regulation purposes man gud ni atoang ginahimo. Kay dili lang man gud sila sa Samal ga-dock (sa ilang bangka), but also diria sa Davao (This is for regulation purposes. They are not only docking in Samal Island but also in Davao)."
Torentera added, "Kinsa ba gakolekta sa tanang basura nga ginalabay sa mga pasahero tung sa baybay, its the CENRO (City Environment and Natural Resources Office). Ang kanang security na ginahatag sa Task Force Davao, ang gapasweldo mana sa ila is the city government of Davao. Maong kinahanglan nato na sila iregulate. (It is Cenro cleaning most of the trash of their passenger; it is Task Force Davao who is ensuring their security. It is Davao City giving these entitites their salaries that is why we need to regulate the boat operators)."
She said that already coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard not to allow chartered boats to sail unless the operators will comply with the city policy.
Meanwhile, PCG Davao Station commander George Maganto said some liner and chartered boats were allowed to sail after securing their business permits from the city government of Davao. Others are still processing their requirements, thus, were not able to travel between Davao City and Igacos.