The barangay captain of Bonbonon, Siaton town, Negros Oriental, where Tambobo Bay is located, has admitted that they are incapable of monitoring the entry and exit of foreigners who use the bay to anchor their yachts.

Worse, these foreign yachts stay in the bay for years without paying docking fees to the municipal government, and denying the barangay of what is due it.

Bonbonon Barangay Captain Rosita Palarpalar told a public hearing yesterday that these foreign yachts are openly violating a barangay ordinance by refusing to pay the required amount of P50 per day when docking at the bay, especially while conducting repairs on their yachts.

Artemio Gadiane, head teacher of the Bonbonon Elementary School, expressed alarm over the environmental effects these yachts have on the bay, because there is no law that regulates them and imposes penalties on violators.

Mayor Vincent Arbolado, whose office initiated the public hearing to inform the barangay about the threat of Influenza A(H1N1) virus, said Siaton town has passed a local ordinance creating the Tambobo Development Authority.

However, it is waiting for a provincial ordinance to harmonize what he believes is their common objective for the bay.

He said concerns for environmental sanitation, health and security threat, as well as the entry of contraband items, will be addressed when the implementing rules and regulations are approved.

Arbolado requested the presence of the Bureau of Immigration in the Bay, quarantine personnel, the Coast Guard, maritime police and the Department of Health.

Arbolado also said the town is creating a task force to monitor and immediately report the entry of foreigners in the area.

The bay is now being used as a drydocking ground for inter-island fishing vessels, some for repairs and if not repaired, they leave them at the coast.

Arlene Dominisac, who operates a resort in Tambobo Bay told the DAILY STAR that 30 to 50 foreign yachts are regularly anchoring in the bay, most of them are owned by British, American and European nationals.

She said these foreign nationals spend their time with Filipino women, socializing and merrymaking.

She also said they refused to pay anchorage fee, claiming that the bay is free and they will only pay if the municipal government will put up public comfort rooms, garbage receptacles and other amenities.

A former U.S. marine who married a Cebuano and had an extended family in Mayabon, Zamboanguita said, he is aware of the pandemic threat of A(H1N1) virus and will abide by whatever regulations the government implements in the area.

Raymond Barkley, however, said, unlike planes, boats take a long time to travel, making them not so vulnerable to the disease.

Present at the public hearing were Sangguniang Bayan members Alfie Lagos, and Cirila Lam,  municipal health officer Dr. Methyl Tan, PNP zamboanguita chief of police Sr. Insp. Gravador, Mayor Arbolado, barangay officials and residents of the area.*JG

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