A GROUP of local community members who frequent Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa is now a chartered nonprofit organization.
On Friday, the officers of Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc. met for the first time as a chartered group at a Sugar Dock palapala or pavilion.
They include David SN Muna, president; Ray Cabrera, vice president; Terry Iginoef, secretary; Raymond U. Palacios, treasurer; John Castro, public information officer; and Bill Ada, chairman of the board.
Herman Cabrera and Martin Ada are the group’s consultants.
PIO Castro, in an interview, said they decided to have the organization chartered as a nonprofit organization because they know the historical significance of Sugar Dock to the local people.
He said it is where he and many other locals have learned many important things in life.
For example, as a child, he said, he learned to swim in the waters off the dock. He is now 71 years old.
Another member of the group, Ton Cruz, who is now 73 years old, said he has been frequenting the area since he was 7. It was there where he learned how to swim, he added.
“This place means a lot to us,” Castro said, adding that the bantalan has been maintained by local volunteers over the years.
“We have duly organized our group so that we become part of the stakeholders who are keeping the place clean, safe and usable,” he said.
He said everyone’s welcome to keep the place safe, and now that they have chartered their group, there will be more diligent efforts in maintaining and improving the place.
He said they are also willing and eager to collaborate with government agencies. “They can let us know what we can do in keeping the place clean and safe not just for us, but for everybody in the community, especially our visitors.”
Castro added, “I would be remiss if I don’t mention Max Aguon who has been taking care of this place, and not just this spot here but all the way to Aquarius Hotel and other areas, for the last 10 to 15 years.”
Castro said, thanks to Aguon’s commitment and hard work “in keeping this place clean, we have this group now.”
Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc. public information officer John Castro, left, speaks during their first meeting as a chartered group at a Sugar Dock palapala on Friday in Chalan Kanoa.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
