The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in Bohol appealed to mayors and other officials in municipalities to urge boat operators to secure proper registration of their sea crafts.

This, after MARINA chief Norma Enriquez admitted that the agency does not have enough manpower to monitor each boat travelling in Bohol seas.

According to Enriquez, the MARINA would be unable to check each of the slew of boats operating in Bohol for registration.

Enriquez singled out the municipality of Panglao where habal-habal or unregistered boats are rampant, noting that the town is one of their main concerns.

Most of the unregistered seacrafts in the town are used by tourists for island-hopping, diving and dolphin watching.

The MARINA official noted that unregistered boats do not have insurance, which could lead to more problems in instances of accidents.

Enriquez also urged the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to further intensify its drive against unregistered boats by arresting its operators and crew.

Previously, Reynaldo Bundal, president of the Panglao Island Tourist Association, said that pumpboats used by tourists are being grounded amid the PCG’s campaign against “colorums” or unregistered seacrafts.

He said that the strict patrol of the PCG will likely affect the income of both pumpboat operators and the local government unit of Panglao.

Of the more than 100 pumpboats ferrying tourists in Panglao around 45 of the said boats are not registered with the MARINA. (Allen Doydora) 

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