Malay pumpboat operators fear displacement

Kalibo , Aklan — Officers and members of the Malay Motorboat Multi-Purpose Cooperative who operate ferry service between Caticlan in the mainland and Boracay Island had expressed fears of displacement from their livelihood once the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation deploys its 75-passenger capacity classed steel hull ferry boats in the same route.

Last Friday, with President Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo witnessing ,   the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation.   Aklan ,   Gov . Carlito S. Marquez,   Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores and Malay Mayor Ceciron S. Cawaling signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the former to operate a ferry service between Caticlan and Boracay .

In the MOU ,   MMC proposes to mount regular 15-minute-internal ferry services between Caticlan and Cagban ,   Boracay jetty ports with an initial four 75-passenger capacity classed steel hull ferry boats.

These fleets will be locally manufactured utilizing the latest ship building technology and will be capable of navigating in all types of weather and even during night time.

Mr. Godofredo Sadiasa emphasized that the entry of MMC in the ferry service will surely displace many of the cooperative members who solely rely on their pumpboats operation as source of income.

Sadiasa said there was no consultation among the stakeholders of Boracay particularly with the pumpboat operators before the signing of the MOU.   He added that the motorboat cooperative can also capably field the same kind of ferry service being proposed by MMC.

Both Marquez and Miraflores assured the pumpboat operators that there will be continuing dialogue since MMC's P150 million project is proposed to start by last quarter of the year.

Miraflores stressed that MMC's fleet cannot possibly pose direct competition with the pumpboat operators as the former's vessels will exact higher fare rates in return for modern amenities and convenience.

Besides ,   Miraflores said,   MMC will be tapping local manpower for its manning requirements.