MALAY, Aklan Acting Mayor Floribar Bautista is keen on privatizing snorkeling activities in Boracay Island.
In a press conference, Bautista said a private stakeholder could help manage snorkeling activities.
"I figure out that there are lots of safety nets needed for the operation of sea activities, such as snorkeling. And this is expensive if to be addressed by the local government. My solution is to give its management to a private stakeholder and the local government will still earns through their taxes and permits," he said.
Bautista said he is confident that private stakeholders would accept such an offer due to the expected demand of tourists coming to Boracay in the coming months.
But he said that at present, there are no private stakeholders who are interested in the offer.
Bautista is currently the acting mayor of Malay town, as Mayor Ciceron Cawaling was suspended by the Department of the Interior and Local Government after he was found guilty of grave misconduct, negligence of duty, conduct unbecoming of a public official, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.