VETERAN Provincial Board Member Atty. Tomas D. Abapo, Jr. has proposed a legislative measure for fusing of payments of all fees for passengers to be able to get into the boat.
Thus, he introduced during the first reading, “An Ordinance which would mandate e-payment and integrated payment of passenger fees and other terminal fees, including seat numbers, in one transaction, so that it could be convenient to the passengers in all ports in Bohol and all Local Government Units in the Province of Bohol.”
This came after the recent full council meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7, chaired and presided over by Gov. Aris Aumentado.
The RDC 7 passed a resolution which mandates the Local Government Units (LGUs) of the Central Visayas, the provinces and the municipalities to enact ordinances which would direct all Port Managers in Tagbilaran, in all the province and the Local Government Units of the Province of Bohol to adopt the Electronic Payment or E-Payment of the sales of passenger tickets, which maybe or ought to be cashless, and to adopt a measure of integrated one method of receiving passenger ticket sales, which would include already terminal fees, baggage fees, and seat numbers in one convenient transaction.
Abapo said that the RDC’s move was prompted following the burden and inconvenience experienced by the passengers whenever they plan to get boat tickets for their travel to other islands.
“As of now, if anybody would go to Cebu or elsewhere to buy a passenger ticket, you have to enter the queue line in the passenger outlets. And then, if you have it, go to another area far away to secure your passenger terminal fee, after which, if you have a luggage, go to another queue and line-up there and wait for your turn and pay for your luggage, after which you have to go to another queue to get the passenger seat number. Absent of one, you cannot enter the passenger terminal to board the ships. This is very inconvenient for passengers,” Abapo lamented.
Abapo then moved for the approval of his proposed measure in first reading, which was seconded BM Nathaniel O. Binlod, BM Crispinito “Greg” Jala and BM Atty. Jamie A. Villamor without objections heard by the presiding officer Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor A. Balite.
He then proceeded to refer the matter to the Joint Committees of Public Utilities & Franchises as lead committee in collaboration with the Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety.
Gov. Aumentado reportedly welcomed the said legislative measure so to make easy and convenience for the passengers pursuant to “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.”
RDC has already passed Resolution No. 47 (s. 2018) and RDC Resolution No. 52 (s. 2017) for one e-ticketing system.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) likewise reportedly issued Administrative Order 12 (s. 2019), for the “Centralized Ticketing System (CTS)” for easy access to travel. (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
