Operators warned on overcharging

CEBU, Philippines — Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura has strongly warned boat operators plying to and from Maya port and the islands of Malapascua and Carnaza against fare overcharging.

Shimura also encouraged the public to report to his office should these problems of overcharging, extortion and the like still continue.

“We the LGU will and never tolerate these kinds of transactions,” Shimura said.

On July 10, 2019, Shimura issued a memorandum suspending the operation of a passenger boat and the services of its boat captain for one day for overcharging of passenger fare in violation of Executive Order No. 29, series of 2017 prescribing the fare of P100 per passenger signed by then mayor Vicente Loot.

In a letter complaint dated July 4, 2019, the boat captain allegedly collected P1,000 from a foreign passenger instead of the authorized passenger fare of P100 from Malapascua Island to Maya port.

In the course of the investigation conducted by port supervisor, Renato Benatiro, the boat captain had admitted collecting P1,000 from the said passenger in order to meet the expected income of P1,500 for that particular trip since there were only four other local passengers on board at P100 each.

Benatiro said the boat captain failed to justify the collection of P1,000 from his passenger who was surprised that 10 more passengers boarded when the arrangement was for a special trip.

Result of the investigation showed that there was really a violation committed by the boat captain for having collected P1,000 from the foreign passenger-complainant.

“Overcharging of passenger fare is a crystal violation to our Executive Order No. 29, series of 2017,” read the investigation report signed by Benatiro. — GAN (FREEMAN)