‘Remove leisure travel restrictions’

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive officer, Frank Carbon appealed for the removal of restrictions on leisure travel which is among the concerns being threshed out before fast crafts can resume operation between this city and Iloilo City.

Carbon, an adviser of a fast craft company operating here, told Daily Guardian that until now, there is no definite time when fast crafts can resume operation.

He said there are many concerns that must be threshed out first.

Carbon said he hopes these will be settled in the Oct 23, 2020 meeting with Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, other concerned government agencies, stakeholders and local government units.

He said he has asked Bacolod Councilor Israel Salanga, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Tourism, and Sandra Ruth Sycip, acting city tourism officer, to lift the restrictions on leisure travel which is part of the executive order of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia that placed Bacolod under General Community Quarantine.

Carbon said at least 20-30 percent of the passengers from Iloilo going to Bacolod travel for leisure or tourism.

He said there is also a need for the hotels and other tourist destinations here to be re-accredited by the Department of Tourism because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Carbon said another problem is while Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has opened the city of Iloilo to travellers, the problem is those going to the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan.

He said there is no clear-cut protocol in these areas yet as far as travel is concerned.

He added that whether there is only 10 percent or 50 percent passenger capacity, fast craft operators have to contend with the fixed cost of their operation such as fuel and salary of the crew.

“We have to determine as well how many passengers will be allowed,” he said.