The opening of Liloan’s Pier 88 next Friday is expected not only to provide alternate routes to sea passengers but also to decongest traffic in Metro Cebu. | photo from Rep. Duke Frasco’s FB page
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The opening of Pier 88 in Liloan is expected to give passengers from Cebu going to Bohol, Camotes, and Leyte, and vice versa, an alternative route choice and ease traffic in Metro Cebu.
Pier 88 is set to start servicing these passengers before May ends.
The Cebu Provincial government’s Public Information Office, in a statement on Thursday, May 18, said two shipping operators, Oceanjet and Super Shuttle, will launch their maiden voyage from Liloan’s Pier 88 to Poro, Camotes Islands this Friday, May 26.
The PIO said this was the commitment given by the shipping operators, Pier 88, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and Ceres during their meeting with Gov. Gwen Garcia on Thursday, May 18.
The PIO said the two shipping companies would ply the Liloan-Camotes-Liloan route once a day.
Oceanjet’s Liloan-Poro route will depart at 8:30 a.m., while the return trip will depart at 1 p.m. on the same day.
Marina also committed to issuing the necessary permits for these routes.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas already issued a franchise to Ceres buses that will also board the Roro vessel, the PIO added.
“They’ll be traveling the Cebu City-Liloan-Camotes route. Earlier, Oceanjet made a round-trip sea trial to Camotes. Its vessel, which can carry up to 350 passengers, has a travel speed of 22 knots (around 40 km/hr) that can traverse the two islands in just an hour and 30 minutes,” the PIO said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Duke Frasco of Cebu’s Fifth District, in a social media post, said Pier 88 will help decongest traffic in Metro Cebu, particularly in Consolacion and Mandaue City, by providing an alternative mode of public transportation from Liloan to and from Mactan and Cebu City.
“The Port will significantly cut travel time, alleviating the difficulties of the traveling public from the northern parts of Metro Cebu who commute daily on the way to their respective workplaces in the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Cebu,” Frasco said.
Frasco said Pier 88 is envisioned not only to function as a port, but also to feature a mall, restaurants, and leisure spaces that can generate economic activity for the fifth district of Cebu. /rcg
READ:
Coast Guard takes measures to ensure safe sea travel for Christmas vacationers
Pier 88 in Liloan poised as Cebu’s 1st smart port