SIQUIJOR — Because the island gave off a peculiar yet magnificent luminosity brought about by the great swarm of fireflies that harbored in the numerous Molave trees, this magical island earned the Spanish accolade Isla del Fuego or island of fire, which is now known as Siquijor.
Fast forward 1982. I have witnessed how Siquijor has grown and developed ever since I was exposed to the Province, first as a community organizer of the defunct Ministry of Human Settlements, second as private secretary to then Gov. Manolito Asok and acting provincial information officer, third as project manager of the World Bank’s Central Visayas Regional Project implementing near-shore fisheries project interventions in all coastal areas, fourth as administrative and technical advisor to the Coastal Conservation & Education Foundation Inc. that implemented the Siquijor Coastal Resource Enhancement project with the Rtn. Ting Matiao Foundation providing technical assistance in the establishment of marine protected areas, mangrove management, and coastal law enforcement activities, and fifth, as project preparation team member that prepared the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Project which was funded by the Asian Development Bank.
Modesty aside, I’ve been part of the development process of the island-Province as taxpayer and development worker for many years.
Every year, I would spend a few days in the island with my family to pay for our real property taxes. Recently, my wife and our daughter were in the hometown of my wife in Maria, Siquijor, and as usual, went around the island to see its natural attractions for the nth time.
Every time we go around, we always witness the increasing volume of tourists and the infrastructure developments mushrooming within the place.
And every time we take boat tickets, we are always part of a long queue of passengers, standing and enduring the long wait which seems like eternity. Naturally, as we waited, we also sweated profusely just to secure our tickets.
In this day and age when online commerce is ubiquitous and practiced in all types of businesses, I still cannot understand why the shipping companies engaged in the Siquijor trips cannot sell boat tickets to passengers a week before, or at least a day before the trip using different methods, to prevent long queues of passengers.
If these companies really want to provide excellent customer service, they should not allow their passengers to become restless, impatient, and frustrated. They should not allow their customers to mumble about the filthy and cluttered surroundings while enduring the heat of the scorching sun and the pungent smell of human dampness.
All these inconveniences are taking place at the ticketing booths in the Dumaguete, Larena, and Siquijor ports.
What’s the logic behind issuing tickets only one hour before departure? Or worse, opening the ticket booth just a few minutes before leaving? I just cannot fathom the rationality behind this practice.
I have a few suggestions considering that the transport sector plays a significant role in economic growth, especially here in Siquijor province whose tourism industry is booming by leaps and bounds:
First, it is highly imperative these shipping companies improve their services to the public, domestic clients, and foreign tourists. They need to understand that improving their brand of service will not only benefit their customers but will benefit them most.
How? We know for a fact that consumers are the best walking advertisements for any business. For sure, these customers will talk about the positive experiences of their travel, either when they reach their places of destination, or when they get back home.
Second, it is high time these shipping companies allow online booking arrangements and advance bookings plus forward-looking accommodation procedure that can be easily accomplished through the use of travel agencies.
Third, shipping companies should allow advanced issuance of tickets similar to air travel.
Fourth, it would add to the positive experience of travelers if there are ticketing booths in every port, in every major shopping mall, or in major thoroughfares. Travelers will certainly appreciate the convenience.
Fifth, and very important, shipping lines should start accepting major credit or debit cards.
Considering that these days, it’s no longer wise for anyone to be carrying around huge sums of money; using plastic cards will be a good development.
This problem has been going on for more than three decades now. The outmoded ticketing and travel procedure of these shipping lines is definitely a colossal challenge to Siquijor Cong. Ramon “Rav” Rocamora , and to the solon of the 2nd District of Negros Oriental, Cong. Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria.
If this problem has lingered this long, perhaps it is because the policymakers, governors, and mayors have not experienced these inconveniences. After all, they would just send somebody to buy the tickets for them or their respective offices will take charge of their travel arrangements, thus, they are not aware of the problems involved, and the many troubles suffered by the ordinary Juan.
Hopefully, the business moguls who own these shipping lines will be reminded that in today’s world, competition is cutthroat, most especially in the transportation business.
They should not stay complacent and think that they are a monopoly. They shouldn’t wait for that time when an unknown shipping company, whose owner understands fully what good customer service means, will suddenly sail into our shores, and engulf/submerge them into oblivion.
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Author’s email: wea_129@yahoo.com
