SAN VICENTE, Palawan — The boat transfer service that bridges the center of this town to Barangay Port Barton and other villages covering the pristine 14.7-kilometer Long Beach has started to improve the sea transportation of residents, movement of goods and products, and boost tourism services, a local official said.
Town tourism chief Lucilyn Panagsagan said regular trips started on January 27 from the Poblacion wharf to help residents and tourists meet their traveling and business requirements in Port Barton.
She said the operation is being managed by the San Vicente Utility Pumpboat Operator Association (SVUPOA).
“’Yong availability and accessibility ng transportation natin from poblacion to Port Barton and vice-versa ay malaking tulong ito sa mga locals natin na may importanteng transaction sa bayan or Port Barton din. Maging sa palitan ng mga kalakal at produkto, ganoon din sa mga turista,” Panagsagan said.
She said the goal of the municipal government under mayor Amy Alvarez’ leadership is to also open up opportunities for cheaper travel as doing it by sea costs less compared to all the other modes of transport.
Panagsagan added that tourists who want to visit the island destinations in Port Barton and Long Beach with portions covered by Brgys. New Agutaya, San Isidro, and Alimanguan can already do it in one day.
From Port Barton, travelers can do sea rides to the poblacion and take road travels to Long Beach within the day.
This is fast compared to land traveling from Port Barton which sometimes costs P400-P500 per passenger in shuttle vans when there are only a few who want to go to Long Beach. Boat drops, on the other hand, can cost around P1,500 for a minimum of three passengers per trip.
For San Vicente residents, the daily transfer fare is P300 and P350 for domestic and foreign travelers.
The first trip will leave the Poblacion to Port Barton at 8 a.m.; the second at 11 a.m., and the third at 3 p.m. From Port Barton to Poblacion, the first trip leaves at 9:30 a.m., second at 12:30 p.m., and third at 4:30 a.m.
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