By Mariela Angella Oladive
Boracay Island has introduced the Boracay iPass, a digital platform aimed at streamlining entry for tourists by eliminating long queues and allowing online pre-payment for Environmental, Terminal, and Boat tickets.
Tourists can now visit www.boracayipass.ph, register, and pay for their tickets using various online payment methods such as credit and debit cards, online banking, GCash, Maya, eMoney, and over-the-counter payments at outlets like 7-Eleven, Bayad Center, Palawan Pawnshop, and Cebuana.
Once payment is completed, a QR code is generated, which tourists present at the Caticlan Jetty Port for scanning, securing their boat seat with ease.
This digital innovation results from a public-private partnership between the Aklan Provincial Government and Boracay stakeholders, addressing long-standing complaints about the tedious ticket purchase process.
“This is not just for the orderliness of our terminal but also to enhance the experience of our tourists,” said Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores during the launch. “We are improving to adapt to digitalization.”
Bong Tirol, the Boracay iPass initiator and partner of PisoPay, shared, “We have managed to make this a reality after years of planning in the unification of our border control to consolidate all the payment processes for our tourists. We are very excited to share this technology and innovation with our tourists and local travelers for their ease of travel to Boracay.”
PisoPay President Ariel Surca assured that, “PisoPay will assist the LGU in implementing and maintaining the Boracay iPass, ensuring a seamless tourist experience.”
For Aklanons, the traditional registration and ticketing process will remain for now, though they will eventually be integrated into the system. They will continue to pay only the boat fare, without additional transaction fees, as part of the project’s next phase.
The Boracay iPass is seen as a major step toward improving travel efficiency and boosting the tourism experience in Boracay, reinforcing the commitment of the Aklan Provincial Government and stakeholders to embracing digital innovation.
