Why sell Balicasag Resort when it is in good hands?

[pioneer]

Why sell Balicasag Resort when it is in good hands?
Bohol Sunday Post

The resident manager of Balicasag Dive resort has reacted to the Post story last week that the tourist facility is up for sale.

The Post  carried a news story quoting Tourism Sec. Joseph “Ace” Durano that eight properties operated by the Philippine Tourism Authority are for sale.

The Balicasag resort is one  of the eight PTA-operated properties.

In effect, Resident Manager Ma. Elena Go of Balicasag Dive Resort reacted to the news story that the resort is in good hands and therefore why sell it.

According to Go, she can assure the people of Bohol that Balicasag Island Resort is in good hands. She further said that those who have been to the resort lately can attest to the veracity of her claim.

She further said that with the recent upgrading and development initiated by former PTA manager James Dean Barbers and with the plan of the current PTA General Manager Mark Lapid, the resort management can say that the resort is now ready to compete with  other dive sites in the country.

Commenting on Durano’s pronouncement, the Balicasag resort manager said  while she respected his plan with regards to selling the facility, the sole decision will not come from his end but from the entire PTA board. Durano is a member of the PTA board.

At the same time, the resort official corrected Durano’s views on the capability of resident managers in operating these PTA facilities  saying she was one of those affected by Durano’s remarks on their qualifications.

In closing, the resident manager  was hoping that through her reaction to Durano’s announcement it would correct the negative views attributed to those handling the operations of the PTA-owned tourism properties.

One reason cited by Durano why the properties are put on the auction block was because they were operating at a loss.   

[ms da binsi]

Mao nay strategy sa mga businessmen, ma ilado na gani ang business ibaligya na ug mahal!

Nothing wrong with that...I know daghan mo palit ana.

[raldampong]

At one time, active pa ko sa BAMMI. Usa ni sa among topic nga Balicasag should be privately managed. Para ma upgrade  ang resort interm of quality standard service instead of mediocre service. 

We petitioned PTA have to hand it over to BAMMI instead. That time PTA Manager is Mr. Palabrica. I told BAMMI that its lossing proposition. because of a big investment involved to redevelop the Resort and some implication with the neighborhood squatter resident in the island. Waste dispossal of the resident complicate the safety of the visitors. Lack of potable water. And beside diving site are accessible from the resort who based from the main Panglao Island. Competition wise I prepare to stay at the onshore resort were potable drinking water is readily available.

The land is own by the Navy who manned the lighthouse.

I stayed there once, I was not impressed by the way PTA managing it. Wa class ang dating at pagkaon sa restaurant order ka pulos dili available. Ligo sa banyo patak-patak lang ang tubig.


We look at PTA's sales is just break even. That was year in 2000.

[ms da binsi]

At one time, active pa ko sa BAMMI. Usa ni sa among topic nga Balicasag should be privately managed. Para ma upgrade  ang resort interm of quality standard service instead of mediocre service. 

We petitioned PTA have to hand it over to BAMMI instead. That time PTA Manager is Mr. Palabrica. I told BAMMI that its lossing proposition. because of a big investment involved to redevelop the Resort and some implication with the neighborhood squatter resident in the island. Waste dispossal of the resident complicate the safety of the visitors. Lack of potable water. And beside diving site are accessible from the resort who based from the main Panglao Island. Competition wise I prepare to stay at the onshore resort were potable drinking water is readily available.

The land is own by the Navy who manned the lighthouse.

I stayed there once, I was not impressed by the way PTA managing it. Wa class ang dating at pagkaon sa restaurant order ka pulos dili available. Ligo sa banyo patak-patak lang ang tubig.


We look at PTA's sales is just break even. That was year in 2000.

Ay ngek! hhahha abi nako nindot!

Yeah you are right Rald...mas maajo pa private ang mag dumala ana.

[Moyhua]

I was there once pod....dli ma sya nindot pra nako kung mo stay didto....sayang kung mapabayaan ra pod sya..kung gov't. man finance ana kikikon ra pod..maau pa biatw private....

by the way kung ibaligya pod sya..pila pod kaha?

[roeladlaon]

paliton nimo angie?,,hehehe

[Moyhua]

hehehehehe....paliton nato mga TB members...hehehehe...dli oi...jamo jud ko tawon...

[Moyhua]

palit na lng ko bangka magbugsay padulong sa Balicasag..mao lng na ako mapalit

[ms da binsi]

pwede ra bugsayun Ange? kay mo uban ko nimo ug bugsay! hahahhaha

[Macky Ferniz]

Pamilacan Island is nowadays used only for temporary docking of divers. There is no much to stay in the Island. However, there is hope through privatization and government subsidy. It should not be sold to only one owner but to multi parties to avoid monopoly.

Most importantly, the original residents of the island should be properly documented (this is the foremost step). We must understand that Pamilacan is small and has limited space and these residents too have the right to live in this island. Without proper space management there will be chaos. Maybe in future, some outsiders might claim that they are from Pamilacan just to grasp business opportunity. There might be a population explosion in this small island if not controlled or managed properly.

I heared when I was young (during the 70's) that this island was already flocked by tourists. Due to its isolation, it was made into a nude beach. Also a friend of mine who installed the solar panels told me so.

[raldampong]

Pamilacan Island is nowadays used only for temporary docking of divers. There is no much to stay in the Island. However, there is hope through privatization and government subsidy. It should not be sold to only one owner but to multi parties to avoid monopoly.

Most importantly, the original residents of the island should be properly documented (this is the foremost step). We must understand that Pamilacan is small and has limited space and these residents too have the right to live in this island. Without proper space management there will be chaos. Maybe in future, some outsiders might claim that they are from Pamilacan just to grasp business opportunity. There might be a population explosion in this small island if not controlled or managed properly.

I heared when I was young (during the 70's) that this island was already flocked by tourists. Due to its isolation, it was made into a nude beach. Also a friend of mine who installed the solar panels told me so.

Gaw Macky, are you reffering to Pamilacan or Balicasag Beach Resort. Balicasag Island is inhabited by transcend fisherman most them  are not really from Bohol according to census. They are now, Boholanos and they are human being, where ever they come from, We have human right to live on this universe.

But legally the island is a military own by the navy. because of the lighthouse. Ever since the Spanish time.

Most of the children and women are selling shell to the tourist who are roaming the beach to augment their livelihood.

What actually bothers us is the stealing ug kanang malibang lang bisag asa ang mga residente sa beach ug sa neighboorhoodug moadto ka dapit sa dool side sa residence mangalisngaw ng baho. Unya ang deepwell nila macontaminate ang tubig sa ilang mga kalibangan.

Mao nay lisod sulbaron. ug ang Balicasag gamay ra kaayo nga isla but over populated. Walay say tubig nga mainom. parat bisag asa ka mo drill ug atabay. Unya mosugat imong atabay ug akong kalibangan just 3 meters away.

[Macky Ferniz]

Aw, sorry na confuse ko Gaw sa Balikasag ug Pamilakan. Balicasag diay to buot nako pasabot.

Kung hunas, puede ra tabokon ang Balikasag gikan sa Panglao. Naay part nga lawm ug languyon, ug naa pod part nga taga tohod ang tubig.

[tohnichi007]

I was there in
Balicasag last wednesday lang jud for the first time. wala sa plano nga lakaw ga motor2x sa tagbilaran hangtod niabot panglao then adventure kaau adto sa balicasag in a very short time mao wala ka explore kaau nag snorkling lang for an hour and it was really great experience though. mobalik pa ko didto kay bitin akong laag ato ehehehe

[ms da binsi]

Gaw Macky, are you reffering to Pamilacan or Balicasag Beach Resort. Balicasag Island is inhabited by transcend fisherman most them  are not really from Bohol according to census. They are now, Boholanos and they are human being, where ever they come from, We have human right to live on this universe.

But legally the island is a military own by the navy. because of the lighthouse. Ever since the Spanish time.

Most of the children and women are selling shell to the tourist who are roaming the beach to augment their livelihood.

What actually bothers us is the stealing ug kanang malibang lang bisag asa ang mga residente sa beach ug sa neighboorhoodug moadto ka dapit sa dool side sa residence mangalisngaw ng baho. Unya ang deepwell nila macontaminate ang tubig sa ilang mga kalibangan.

Mao nay lisod sulbaron. ug ang Balicasag gamay ra kaayo nga isla but over populated. Walay say tubig nga mainom. parat bisag asa ka mo drill ug atabay. Unya mosugat imong atabay ug akong kalibangan just 3 meters away.

So meaning to say mga squatters ra na sila tanan? kay dili man jud namahimong private property.

[ms da binsi]

I was there in
Balicasag last wednesday lang jud for the first time. wala sa plano nga lakaw ga motor2x sa tagbilaran hangtod niabot panglao then adventure kaau adto sa balicasag in a very short time mao wala ka explore kaau nag snorkling lang for an hour and it was really great experience though. mobalik pa ko didto kay bitin akong laag ato ehehehe

Tohn, sa 2010 nalang ta mag warak ug maajo dear. Kinahanglan nga mag file na ka leave a month before sa Mega EB...

[grazie7y]

Aw, sorry na confuse ko Gaw sa Balikasag ug Pamilakan. Balicasag diay to buot nako pasabot.

Kung hunas, puede ra tabokon ang Balikasag gikan sa Panglao. Naay part nga lawm ug languyon, ug naa pod part nga taga tohod ang tubig.

Macky, matabok ba gud tong Balicasag from Panglao na layo man kaayo to!  We travelled for good 30 or so minutes to get there.  Mura gani sya'g White Island sa Camiguin.

[Moyhua]

palit na lng ko bangka magbugsay padulong sa Balicasag..mao lng na ako mapalit

Pwede man cguro magbugsay Grazie kung wla lng kaau balod...unya kanang dako dako atong sakayan...hehehe...pagkabibo cguro..ang race ang mga TB members magbugsay padulong sa Balicasag...Murag Dragon Boat Race ba..

[grazie7y]

Pwede man cguro magbugsay Grazie kung wla lng kaau balod...unya kanang dako dako atong sakayan...hehehe...pagkabibo cguro..ang race ang mga TB members magbugsay padulong sa Balicasag...Murag Dragon Boat Race ba..

Lagi, pump boat bitaw to among gisakyan, Anj.  Tiaw, di man ko kamao mo drive ug baroto oi pero si Mommy pirte ka anad mo timon ug baroto!

[raldampong]

Macky, matabok ba gud tong Balicasag from Panglao na layo man kaayo to!  We travelled for good 30 or so minutes to get there.  Mura gani sya'g White Island sa Camiguin.

Matabok ra ug hunas, may parte nga matugkad, naay usa island along way, coconut Island ba kamabaw sa dagat layo sad ang lakwon ug mosulod ka. its unhibited walay ga poyo.

[wowboholphilippines]

It's not earning though. I have bad experience with that resort sometime in 2002 when our friends had a vacation on Bohol. The rooms were not clean. The toilets are not clean, too.

[ms da binsi]

ngek!

[raldampong]

It's not earning though. I have bad experience with that resort sometime in 2002 when our friends had a vacation on Bohol. The rooms were not clean. The toilets are not clean, too.

They were not clean because no water to clean the bathroom. no electricity too, only a small generating set. 

    Actually nindot siya nga Isla, white sand usab, but too small for big resort development. Pero kon duna investor nga mopalit kinahanglan isolate ang resort sa nga resident. Bisag butangan ug wall solid apan kay mo libot man nang tourist sa tibook isla maglakaw lang unya makatunob ug tae kay duna man ma libang sa other part ng beach unya ganahan pa diay ka mobalik.

Di nimo control tong pikas side sa island.

[sab_sad]

giluod ko nag-imagine anang naay tae imohang matumban! ewwww! and i dont like hungaw ang mga facilities..unya mag-abot ang water sa CR og sa dagat?naks giluod gyudko oi dli mangani ko maligo sa uban beach na black ang color or brown ang laha sand how much more anah? balik kog Anda oi hehehe 

[buwadsanga]

balicasag island is one of the famous "THE BEST" dive site in the philippine archepilago.

I WAS THERE MANY TIMES THRILLED BY THIS SUPERB ISLAND'S UNDERWATER SCENE!!!

"IBALIGJA NI DURANO?

"KINSA MAY MOPALIT?"

SIGURADO! SI DURANO!!!!! SIGURADO!!!!     

[Macky Ferniz]

Paliton na ni Arroyo.

Di ba ang Escaya Beach Resort kang Arroyo man na? Acquired during her term.

Perhaps its not a secret anymore. I guess.

[Moyhua]

Kay Arroyo di ay Nang Eskaya??? by the way, unsa may mas maau... Flushing Meadows or Amorita??? I need ur suggestions and opinion.

[buwadsanga]

flushing meadows is okay with it's pool esp if you play tennis. the place is excellent

[Moyhua]

Ok.naka stay naka didto buwadsanga??? what about amorita??? akong mga inlaws kauban...ok ra ba sa mga seniors?

[buwadsanga]

kong mahina na ang tuhod ajaw sa flushing meadows kay taas2x hagdanan ug mo adto kas baybay. aside from that the place is okay

[Moyhua]

ok...have u been to amorita? asa bay nindot unya kana pod dli kaau mahal ba? naa ka recommend buwad?

[buwadsanga]

wa pako kaanha sa amorita. ingna si amorito galig naka adto na sija! hehehe!

[Moyhua]

Dha ka!tininuod jud baya ning ako

[buwadsanga]

im serious taas ang hagdanan sa flushing meadows I was there last year!

[Moyhua]

Ok. I will check BBC and Amorita and Alona Palm.

[hofelina]

I was able to visit the place and I could see plenty of divers from Korea and Canada who rented a big boat and stayed there.

[bolingitboy]

it is probably a good idea to sell the balicasag resort facilities owned by PTA. in my experience, most PTA-owned facilities that i have visited such as the banaue hotel and youth hostel, the PTA facility in alaminos, pangasinan and mt. data lodge in mountain province are not very well maintained and they have quite expensive rates. being so, you don't get your money's worth. if these PTA-owned facilities are sold, these may be better maintained.

[grazie7y]

I visited Balicasag years ago and I really enjoyed the boat ride.  The cottages were not really that great but the beach was awesome.  We brought our own food so it was perfect. 

How can we say it is in good hands when the bottom line has been red?  Basin kinahanglan pod re-training sa mga staff ug tagdumala. 

[buwadsanga]

were now in between the crony take over against improvement of balicasag. how about kong taga bohol ang mo palit sayanag din ang balicasag

[bolingitboy]

good quality service, which is a very important factor to consider in the tourism and hospitality industry, is usually not provided in government-owned facilities because employees get paid just the whether the establishment they are serving is making money or not, so they couldn't care less if their guests are happy and satisfied with the facilities and services or not. so it would be a totally different scenario with a businesss establishment under private sector management.  mostly, facilities and services are upgraded to that guests are happy and satisfied and they came back, or tell other people about the place, and that is good for business to make it profitable and worthwhile doing... if i had the money, i'd buy the resort, improve it by making sure there is food and water available and promote the place as it should to lure more guests. but most importantly, i'd make sure that the place is clean and the coral reef protected being the main attractions of the area. without the coral reef and clean white beach, there is nothing to go to balicasag for... seriously, i would be surprised if no one among the big business families in bohol would buy the facility.