The Coast Guard in Negros Oriental is reminding commercial vessels, such as motorboats, to limit their travel to their specific and authorized routes.
Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, Coast Guard Station Negros Oriental commander, on Monday said that motorboats that ferry tourists, passengers, or scuba divers cannot just travel from one destination to another unless authorized and specified in their Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC).
“The CPC, issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), specifies the routes for these motorboats, restricting their travel only to areas as mentioned in the document,” Enopia said.
Coast Guard personnel, upon inspection of a motorboat’s CPC, will decide whether it is allowed to travel to another destination, she added.
Enopia’s statement comes following apprehensions by some dive boat operators who said they can no longer travel from Apo Island to Siquijor or to Sumilon Island in Cebu.
Some operators offer “island-hopping tours” to include snorkeling, diving and beaches for tourists who visit the province.
The Coast Guard local chief said that in this case, the motorboats may have to apply for multiple destinations in their CPCs.
Enopia added that if a motorboat operator intends to visit another destination outside of his CPC-authorized route, that individual must update his CPC with the MARINA.*
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