by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM
Engr. Jonathan Salvador, Kapihan guest (center) is flanked by Megs S. Lunn, and Edwin Ramos - program hosts.
The Weekly Kapihan on September 23, 2012 took time to mix business and pleasure in a river boat cruise aboard in the first ever fiberglass vessel of Batan-Dumaguit Ferries Corp (BDFC). The host is Chief Engr. Jonathan R. Salvador, manager of Metallica Marine and Consultancy Services based in Poblacion, New Washington, Aklan.
In a briefing held before going to eco tour, the group composed of 35 members from Aklan tri-media, faculty members of Systems Technical Institute (STI), Northwestern Visayan Colleges (NVC) and stockholders of BDFC, Engr. Salvador said, the Lagatik river cruise and eco tour is a project conceived and financed by Aklanon businessmen. For its first incorporators, relatives and friends have pledged their support but ultimately to be expanded to other interested individuals especially Aklanon seafarers.
The facilities include one unit trimaran steel and fiberglass hull (cap. 40-60 passengers), two jet skies and two speedboats. The amenities include visits to mangrove and bird sanctuary, fish fattening farm, fish/oyster farm and other special interest stopoversThe package tour cost P500/head for breakfast cruise and P600/head – lunch or dinner. The three hours cruises are scheduled as follows: 7:00–10:00 AM, 11:30–1:30 PM, and 3:00–6:00PM. There will be live band entertainment and DVD music or film. Special fee is available for student group tours, teachers and senior citizens. The terminal, ticketing, and booking office is under construction at McKinley road, New Washington.
Ms. Remedios Ambrosio, a stockholder of BDFC stressed, “the corporation believes that Aklan has numerous potential tourist attractions aside from Boracay. Their avowed mission is to develop alternative destinations and worthwhile travel experience offering the best of Aklanon hospitality, comfort and safety.”
It is common knowledge that Boracay tourism and development is a product of private initiative. A germ of idea that began in the early 1970’s with Engr. Marcial Arac’s cottage which now attracts a million visitors annually. DOT estimates P17 billion in tourism receipts sparking more government infra spending on projects like seaport, airport, and roads. The government under Gov. Carlito S. Marquez enacted the Environmental Code of Aklan in 2011. Unfortunately, it has yet to adopt a comprehensive Provincial Tourism Plan that embodies the needs and aspiration of its citizens. The question is: must it take this long to develop a medium or long term plan?
The Aklan Provincial Tourism Council organized more than two years ago is inept in coming out even with a modest proposal. With no definite plan in mind, our tourism strategies appear amateurish. Most airline travelers in key tourist destinations have access to marketing media like flyers, leaflets or online video of local attractions and amenities. Dinagyang of Iloilo and Sinulog of Cebu draws more than a million tourists each year because of aggressive and well coordinated marketing strategies. Kalibo ati-atihan on the other hand acclaimed to be Mother of all Festivals has none. The outcome is very disturbing. (There are tourism plan, program, projects, and activities. It is a matter of appreciation.)
Undoubtedly private public partnership on Aklan tourism is symbiotic like each one benefitting the other. Multi-destination offerings in Libacao, Kalibo, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Buruanga, and New Washington are impressive because of natural beauty spots and varied points of interest. The latter invariably include finished fiber products from piña, abaca, and raffia, nitto, rattan, bamboo and bariw weaving, food processing, (longganisa, tocino, deboned bangus), pottery, bamboo, and woodcraft.
LAGATIK RIVER CRUISE
River cruise in Lagatik river, New Washington is a scenic attraction. Even its 250 bamboo fish pens lining the waterway are amusing. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) according to Engr. Jonathan Salvador has a memo circular that shipping lanes encompassing river or lakes must be free of all obstructions. Unfortunately, this has never been implemented by local authorities.
Unregulated constructions of bamboo fish pens induce siltation, pose danger to marine navigation and destroys natural mangrove habitat. Moreover, extensive use of fine mesh nets (less than 3 cms. dia mesh) is destructive fishery practice.
New Washington fisherfolks may engage in eco friendly fishing enterprises like culture of green seaweed vegetable, eaba-eaba fattening and oyster culture using floating bamboo raft and rubber strips. Seafood capital could process excess production of bangus, shrimps, prawn, crabs, oysters, clams and other commercial marine fish species for domestic and foreign market.
The majority of 2,000 fish species recorded in Lagatik river four or five decades ago is no longer found due to water pollution, overfishing, siltation and massive conversion of mangroves into fishponds. Drastic decline came after the Tambak bridge was closed to inter-tidal flow coming from Sibuyan sea. Presently, Lagatik river is murky, fowl smelling and inadvisable for bathing. Widening and dredging bridge channel at Tambak could result to economic resurgence benefitting not only the people of New Washington but neighboring municipalities of Batan, Balete, and Altavas.
Tourism development in Aklan is often spearheaded by private initiative. Tourism sales and promotion in Boracay are handled by international experts in the trade. Caticlan domestic airport is being developed by San Miguel Transaire Holdings Inc. to be converted into an international airport. Completion is set for next year where tourist influx is expected to double the present volume of 1.0 million.
Meanwhile, KIA management under CAAP appears inefficient and pathetic in terms of providing proper security and comfort for the customers. It is a welcome opportunity to have open competition in Caticlan where it is privately operated and managed.
Indeed, investors in AKlan didn’t wait for the drafting and approval of the Provincial Tourism Code. They did their thing for all these years without it and replete with many legal and other problems. /MP
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