To envision to be the leading provider of a state-of-the-art tourist boats that would benefit all stakeholder and each member through recreation & modernization with enterprise and reasonable value is the intention of a newly estáblished association.
The Cebu Tourist Boat Association formally launches its organization today, October 29, 2022, at the Golden Prince Hotel & Suites.
The inauguration of a new organization that is with purpose and a mission, which is to partake in the implementation of the goals of Marina and envisioning the tourism maritime sector in Cebu to level up in accepting and realizing the modernization of tourist boats in our region.
The organization was created and established with an optimistic view and future-proof approach in response to Memorandum Circular 2016-02 issue by the Marina on the Revised Rules on the Phase Out of Wooden-hulled Marine Vessel Carrying Passengers in Domestic Shipping.
The Cebu Tourist Boat Association recognizes and is in support on the Ship Modernization Program of Marina which is the phasing out of Wooden-Hulled Tourist/ Recreational Boats (WHTRB); to which the association have consulted and is backed up with the technical expertise and support of a Cebu local boat builder (with international standards) that shall pave the way in the future and modernization of the bancas in the Philippines.
The Cebu Tourist Boat Association orchestrates this open forum event and consultation to address the current situation and need of the maritime tourism sector in Region 7 specifically in Cebu in relation to the Marina Ship Modernization Program.
Five distinguished guest-speakers will join the panel and share their thoughts, their reactions, their knowledge and expertise with regards to the call on the Marine Ship Modernization Program of Marina.
The speakers and panelists are led by the Chairman of Cebu Tourist Boat Association, Chief Engr. Optaciano Sy Boo Jr. and including Marina Enforcement Service OIC Director Engr. Ronaldo P. Bandalaria; Chief Officer of the Franchising and Shipping Division of Marna, Atty. Jose M. Cabatingan III (covering on behalf of Marina 7 Regional Director Engr. Emmanuel Carpio, PhD) and Cebu Tourist Boat Association Cooperative Consultant Atty. Gary Maningo.
The Department of Tourism graces the event with the Undersecretary for Legal & Special Concerns & Chief of Staff; Atty. Mae Elaine T. Bathan and is accompanied also by the Head Executive Assistant of the Department of Tourism, Mr. Alven Talisic on behalf of DOT Secretary Hon. Atty. Christina Garcia Frasco.
The event is made possible also with the generosity of the sponsors:
Gold: SEALS Group of Companies
Silver: Alpha Insurance and Surety Co. Inc., Ho Star Marine Supplies and Engineering LTD., Full-Force MarketStrat Gateway Business Support Services, SEA Olympus Marketing Inc. and Topline Group of Companies
Bronze: BP Technologies a division of Big Pix Graphic Systems Inc., Hexagon Distributing Corp., PPG Protective and Marine Coatings, SR & T Industrial Supplies.
The true purpose of the event is to convene the different stakeholders involving in the tourism maritime sector. To bring a positive impact on the awareness and call to support in the ship modernization program of Marina.
Moreover, this will help bring back the livelihood and strengthen the tourism industry of the maritime sector in Cebu after the devastation that Typhoon Odette has caused and the unfortunate circumstances that the pandemic has brought us as well.
This forum and consultation are just the first of the many until the ship modernization program of Marina will be comprehended, and with the Cebu Tourist Boat Association leading the way it is for certain that soon enough the program will be realized because CBTA envisions it and is committed to become a trusted and leading provider of tourist boat modernization for each stakeholder, member and partners.