Last week, with foreign participants of the recently-concluded meeting of the Asia-Pacific Regional Centers of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, we travelled to Bohol March 6 and returned to Cebu the next day, March 7.
At the OceanJet counter in Pier 1 of Cebu City, those with luggage among our group were asked to check-in and were told to pay for the luggage. We were told it was the policy. We were unclear what the policy was, whether the charge was based on the size, the number, or the weight of the luggage. No weighing was done, however. Our group was instructed to leave the luggage in a pile- regardless of number, weight, or size. Then, each luggage was charged P30.
When one checks in at the airport, depending on the airline, various policies apply related to luggage number, size, and weight. The policies are clearly stated in the tickets and therefore, the plane passengers are informed earlier about what size, how heavy, and how many luggage they can carry without charge.
In the case of OceanJet, there was no written policy about luggage shown to us. So when about 20 of our group of Filipino and foreign passengers were made to pay P30 per luggage, we were unable to explain to ourselves and our guests the basis for the charge.
May we ask OceanJet Cebu when and why the passengers are charged P30 per luggage? Is it a charge in exchange for porter service? Our group members were ready to bring their own luggage themselves to the fast-craft but they were not allowed to do so by the OceanJet staff inside the Cebu City port.
At Tagbilaran Port the next day, a number of our foreign partners were again required to pay for their luggage, but to the surprise and embarrassment of the Filipinos in the group, each luggage was charged P100! Why the difference in the amount charged? Can OceanJet please clarify their luggage policy and charge and why the luggage charge difference in Cebu and Tagbilaran ports?
We again travelled to Ormoc last March 10 with some foreigners who carried some luggage like those who went to Bohol with us previously. Supercat allowed them to bring their luggage by themselves inside the boat without check-in and without charge.
What is the policy about luggage allowed by port authorities in Cebu, Bohol, and all over the Philippines? Can port authorities please clarify their position about luggage policies of shipping companies?
Our next question relates to supervision of porters and transport dealers/brokers in and out of ports. We understand the need to support the livelihood of our port workers but we also need for them to be properly supervised- otherwise, airport and boat passengers may be abused and arbitrarily charged exorbitant prices. It may help for the porters and vehicle dealers to give clients official copies of authorized rates. It may also help for port authorities to have these port service providers supervised and assigned to a designated place so that passengers are not harassed by persistent personnel at the ports. To ensure that the port service providers are supported, it may help to have a system where all are required to register and be asked to line up in a designated area easily accessible to potential clients.
If the situation inside the port needs some clear and systematic policies, the more chaotic situation outside the port needs immediate, urgent attention, and collaboration of local city and barangay officials, the police, the Department of Tourism, and port authorities.
Those of you who have travelled by boats may have experienced trying to hail a taxi outside the ports. Again, outside of Cebu City's Pier 1, with some foreign partners, we experienced being surrounded by men who dictated to us which taxis to take. They would not listen to our request to hail the taxis by ourselves. The taxis also could not get directly to the passengers because of the presence of these men who wanted to get some commission from the passengers merely for hailing taxis!
Just across where we experienced this chaos was a police precinct! Cannot our police near ports direct the taxis to a designated area where passengers can wait safely and not be harassed by unauthorized dealers/brokers? Cannot the police assign someone to protect the passengers at the designated taxi boarding area? Calling on PS1 Wayne Magbanua of the Cebu City Police Precinct 3 for your urgent assistance and supervision please!
Better and safer tourism is not the only issue here. Systematic and clear policies and practice protect and support everyone.
We hope all those that can upgrade the conditions in our ports take immediate collaborative, consultative action soon for everyone's welfare and protection.