Bancas II

As I mentioned, many of the larger bancas are used for transporting passengers. Some of the ones that are licensed officially, park at the same pier as the ferry's. Since the P.I. is made up of a lot of different islands, travelling in a boat to get to some places is mandatory. In my area, and farther south of me, are many tourist beaches and resorts. There are hundreds of foreigners coming here each week to go snorkeling and diving. Many of these resorts also teach diving classes. The only way to get to some of them is with the big bancas. Most of the larger ones have a covered roof to protect you from the sun. If you want a real tropical vacation, then this is it. The banca will take you from the main pier to your destination, usually taking from one and a half hours, up to over three hours, depending on where you're going. They will go straight to the resort pier, and drop you off, where the staff will assist you with your bags and gear. You will be given a nice tropical drink as soon as you arrive, and you will start to "feel" the environment. By U.S. standards, these resorts are very affordable. A nice air conditioned cottage awaits you. The area is geared to foreign visitors.
Back to the banca's; they will have their own small fleet of boats at the resort or beach. They are used to take you diving, snorkeling, fishing, or just cruising around. Most of these banca's are either owned by the resort, or contracted out to locals. Some will stay very close to the reefs and shallows, so they are smaller and have a more flat bottom. Some will go out quite far, and are bigger and deeper. They use them for what they were designed for. If you're in to diving or snorkeling, these areas offer sites that are just as good, or better, than any place else in the world. You will definitely have your eyes full of colorful fish, octopus, squid, any number of different reef fish. And you will see coral of all shapes and types. You might even run into a few sea snakes (I did!).  
The banca's are very versatile, but as they are made mostly of wood or bamboo, they must be serviced as needed. Most all of these resorts have personnel that are always checking out the boats to ensure your safety. If they are not fit they will not go out. They cannot afford to have leaky boats and disgruntled guests.
Many foreigners are "labeled" by the locals. Meaning that they are put into a group that the locals understand. I won't pick on any nationality, although I easily could. Some are labeled as "the unfriendlies". They try very hard to stay away from them. It's a karma thing. Others are labeled as "koriput" (cheap). Unfortunately, there are many that fall into this group. Still others get the label "maganda" (beautiful), or the opposite, "pangit" (ugly)(could mean both attitude and appearance). To get the best service, try to be in a better label. Being polite and kind goes a long way with the locals. You most likely will see them giving you extra benefits that the other groups will not get.
 If you have already ridden in a banca boat, or if you get a chance to in the future, you will known right away why they are called "banca" boats. It's a sound that you, for sure, have never heard before.
In some places, tipping is not allowed; in some it is. It is important that you find out. If you rent a banca boat, the driver and crew may be paid directly from you. In other places, you pay the resort, then they pay the crew. If the fee, for example, is 500 pesos ($10), and they do a good job for you, then it is normal for you to "throw in a bit extra". About a 200 peso tip will bring smiles, and they will most certainly remember you. Even if tipping is not allowed, I always slide them a few hundred for a good trip. Keep up this practice (but don't go crazy), and you will quickly develop friends around the resort that are more than willing to run errands for you, make sure you have the best of everything, get your drinks for you; well, you get the picture. It won't cost you an arm and a leg either. Just be polite, and remember, that while you are there, YOU are the guest, not the owner!