All dressed down and nowhere to go.
That’s what becomes of tourists who go to Bais or Manjuyod supposedly to enjoy a day of dolphin and whale watching at the Tanon Strait.
That’s because these tours have been cancelled for almost two weeks now after it was learned that the boats used to ferry passengers on this tourism attraction have not been registered with the Maritime Industry Authority.
This has affected more that 100 boat operators in Bais City alone and scores of others in the town of Manjuyod.
The Coast Guard immediately put a stop to these tours and warned those who disobey the order will be arrested and fined. To prove their point, they have been going on periodic patrols in the Tanon Strait to discourage any boats from sailing.
According to the Local Government Code, the local chief executive shall inform the national government agencies, in this case the MARINA and the Coast Guard – if any services have adverse effects on the lives of the citizen that is being foreseen or is being felt and to submit proposals intended to prevent or mitigate the same, preferably before project implementation.
It may, therefore, have been possible for the LGU to have convinced the Coast Guard and the MARINA to allow the boats to comply with the requirements within a one month period while they go about their business.
The LGU could also have checked on the legality of these tourist boats before any problems came about, instead of washing its hands over the stoppage of the dolphin- and whale-watching tours. Bais City Legal Officer Lloyd Joseph Elmaco said they understand that the Coast Guard was just doing their job in implementing the law.
But was the LGU of Bais really that powerless to stop the Coast Guard from running after unregistered tourist boats?
Dumaguete City, back in 1998, told the Land Transportation Office NOT to implement the helmet law. Today, the LTO is arresting violators of the helmet law everywhere else but in Dumaguete, to the amazement of tourists and locals alike.
Now, the LTO patrols the streets and arrests drivers for having loud mufflers, for having no side mirrors, for having no license and registration, but NEVER for not wearing a helmet, which is supposedly part of the same law.
Perhaps the Bais can learn from Dumaguete City Mayor Ipe Remollo on how he was able to pull this off.
