TAGBILARAN CITY — The Regional Development Council has urged all local government units with ports to issue ordinances to compel shipping companies to embrace the electronic ticketing system and use of cashless transactions.
According to the RDC, it will be convenient for the public to be allowed to purchase boat tickets online, while ultimately preventing unscrupulous individuals from acting as “fixers” for passengers at the port area.
The local ordinances to be passed by the respective LGUs will give teeth to the drive to encourage shipping companies to make use of cashless ticketing systems.
A draft Resolution was also presented at the RDC meeting here in Tagbilaran.
It can be recalled that the RDC had previously proposed for the e-ticketing system, and the consolidation of various terminal fees together with the price of the boat ticket, for the convenience of passengers.
This is embodied in RDC Resolution No. 47 and RDC Resolution No. 52.
In another development, the Economic Development Committee of the RDC has expressed support for e-ticketing and the consolidation of the terminal fees with the boat ticket itself.
Other than the RDC resolutions, the Philippine Ports Authority also issued Administrative Order 12, series of 2019, for the policy on a Centralized Ticketing System.
Along this line, the Economic Development Committee passed Resolution No. 11 series of 2019 tasking the Department of Transportation to allow the centralization of all charges under the One Ticketing System, but this was not implemented in the ports in Central Visayas.
Edward Du, private sector representative to the RDC as president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said the City government of Dumaguete had passed an Ordinance requiring shipping companies in Dumaguete to upgrade to e-ticketing services, which would be mandatory by 2024. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)
