BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Fast craft ferries from this capital city bound for Iloilo and vice versa are expected to resume operation today after receiving approval from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
Weesam Express Fast Craft and SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation will each operate two round trips daily under the “new normal,” MARINA Region 6 director Jose Venancio Vero announced yesterday.
“All of them committed to have two round trips each, so, it’s four round trips as of now,” Vero said.
The Ocean Fast Ferries, Inc., meanwhile, eyes to also resume its operations anytime next week.
He assured that the operators are compliant with MARINA’s advisory regarding the protocols to operate under the new normal.
For his part, Weesam Express operator Frank Carbon said they will only accept 50 percent of their vessel’s total passenger capacity, citing an agreement made between city officials from Bacolod and Iloilo, MARINA, and ferry operators. They have also agreed not to impose any fare hikes for at least another two weeks.
Philippine Coast Guard Negros Occidental chief Lieutenant Commander Jansen Benjamin said passengers will be required to present proper identification cards before they would be allowed enter the terminal.
This is part of the precautionary measures to avert transmission of coronavirus disease 2019, Benjamin added.
The city government here will no longer be requiring all individuals originating from Western Visayas swab tests or the required 14-day quarantine.
However, locally stranded individuals coming from other areas of the country are still required for swabbing and evaluation from officials from the City Health Office and local barangays where they reside. This will determine if they would be allowed for home quarantine.
Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, meanwhile, announced they will still enforce swab testing for non-Bacolod residents coming from Panay to make sure the threat of the COVID-19 is controlled.
Bacolod residents, who will be arriving at the Bredco port, are also welcome to undergo swab testing according to the governor, adding it is free of charge. (With a report from PNA/PN)
