Board Member Winston Arzaga called for immediate action on problems surrounding the Beach Bus service in El Nido, including its effect on local tricycle drivers.
Arzaga raised the issue in a privilege speech during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday, July 21.
He asked the offices concerned to address the dispute and consider the livelihood of tricycle drivers who said the bus service had reduced their passengers and daily income.
“I just would like to call the attention of the Provincial Board pertaining to the operations of the beach bus in the municipality of El Nido,” he said.
“The operation of that bus company in the town has caused several issues. First, it has public interest issues because it has effectively sidelined the operations of tricycle operators in the municipality. And then, to my mind, its operation is not environmentally friendly,” Arzaga added.
He also called for a review of how the franchise was awarded.
Arzaga formally moved to refer the El Nido beach bus issue to the Provincial Board’s Committee on Transportation, which could invite concerned local officials and transport operators to help resolve the matter.
Board Member Juan Anton Alvarez supported Arzaga’s motion to investigate the operations of the beach bus.
Alvarez said the bus had caused confusion in the municipality and agreed that the Provincial Board should invite the concerned agencies and parties to clarify the issue.
He also claimed that the operator had deficiencies in its requirements and permits, not only at the local government level but also with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and other concerned offices.
“I know for a fact na madami talaga silang pagkukulang sa mga requirements nila, sa mga permits nila, not just sa local but also sa level ng PCSD, and all the other requirements na kailangan nila,” Alvarez said.
He then seconded Arzaga’s motion to refer the matter to the Provincial Board’s Committee on Transportation.
The issue came to light after the El Nido municipal government suspended the temporary permit of Beach Bus Transport Corp. over alleged repeated violations of its conditions.
The Beach Bus reportedly began operating in April as a scheduled transport service connecting the El Nido town proper with tourist destinations such as Lio, Nacpan Beach, Duli Beach, Corong-Corong and Vanilla Beach.
The company offered air-conditioned buses and unlimited-ride passes to tourists and local passengers.
However, tricycle groups complained that the buses were picking up passengers on routes already served by local transport associations.
Drivers from Nacpan and other areas told local media outlets that the service had reduced the number of trips assigned to tricycles and cut their income. Some later asked the municipal government to cancel the Beach Bus permit instead of merely suspending its operations.
The Beach Bus operator, meanwhile, alleged that some tricycle drivers had harassed its workers and interfered with its operations.
Arzaga’s privilege speech placed the dispute before the provincial legislature as both a transport and livelihood issue.
He stressed the need to address the operational problems while considering tricycle drivers who depend on passenger trips for their families’ income.
