Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Discourtesy In The Jetty Port

“If nothing is done to improve the process of reception to visitors in the jetty ports in Caticlan and Cagban, Malay, I will resign”, declared Mr. Albert Meñez, member of the Board of Directors of the Aklan Provincial Tourism Council (APTC). 

Mr. Meñez lamented the discourtesy the receptionist at the Jetty Port accorded him during his visit to Boracay island recently. 

Mr. Meñez is also the chairman of the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-atihan Foundation, Incorporated and former member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo.

The revelation of the shabby treatment accorded him was during the meeting of the APTC on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 21 at the Provincial Governor’s Conference room. 

In that meeting, Ms. Lenette R. Mendoza also revealed the same treatment she received during her visit to Boracay Island with a group three weeks ago. 

Jetty Port Administrator Niven Maquirang who was present during that meeting explained why those discourtesies happened. 

First, he cannot hire a highly qualified personnel because of meager compensation being paid. 

Second, the job is tedious as the receptionists work continuously for eight hours a day with all kinds of people and nationalities they served; and

Third, there is no systematic recruitment process of personnel to follow.

The jetty port management in Malay, Aklan is aware that more than one million visitors are now visiting Aklan with final destination in Boracay. These visitors come from not only in the Philippines but from several countries abroad. The main purpose of their visit is to seek pleasure and happiness. Hence, they must be happily welcomed and received with utmost courtesy.

The receptionists at the jetty port will portray the kind of people the Aklanons are. The receptionists mirror to the visitors our culture, our breeding. Are Aklanons polite? kind? respectful?

With those observations, several suggestions were given. Ms. India Dela Cruz Legaspi suggested “to impress upon the receptionists in the jetty port that they are there to assist the visitors and not to accost (para buligan, owa ga sita).

Submit Proposal

There is a need for the jetty port administrator to submit to official concerned a proposal to promote effective personnel management and services for the best interest of Aklan and the Aklanons. It is also to provide maximum favorable services to the visitors.

The personnel management proposal will include the positions required in the jetty port, the terms of reference like qualification standard, compensation package and tour of duty among others.

Since the duties and responsibilities mainly involve people management, priority be given to applicants who are psychologically qualified with excellent communication skill, high tolerance, amiable, of pleasing personality, diligent and honest. If possible, there must be psychologist and linguist to handle some communication problems. /MP