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The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Palawan is requesting the establishment of a mobile licensing and registration unit of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in El Nido town to avoid delay for 600 tourist boats operating in peak season starting in February.
SP member Nieves Rosento said that it will speed up the process of needed documents by boat operators to accommodate tourists’ tours.
Out of 600 registered tourist boats, only 400 are sailing due to expired papers that needed to be processed with MARINA. The increment in weather also pushes the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to only allow 80 percent load capacity on boats to secure the safety of tourists.
“Para mapabilis ang documents ng pending ay magkaroon ng mobile dito sa may mga existing application ng boat. Hanggang ngayon ay nagkakaproblema sa tours kasi ang daming boats na non-compliant beyond their control,” Rosento said.
She noticed a positive result on the mobile registration in the town that was facilitated in 2017. The request for MARINA’s mobile registration this year is also advised by PCG to help those boat operators with pending applications.
In 2024, about a million tourist arrivals in El Nido town were estimated by the board member, with the peak starting in February during Chinese New Year until April.
She noted that the fast-tracking in the processing of boat registration can help the province’s economy while promoting El Nido.
In addition to the request for immediate mobile registration, Rosento also sees the advantage of having a satellite office for receiving processes.
Aside from virtual transactions, some boat operators opt to visit the office in MARINA in Puerto Princesa City, which is about five to six hours’ travel away from El Nido.
Rosento said the El Nido Pumpboat Owners Association (ENPOA) assured her that they could offer the satellite station of MARINA. (PIA)