GUIMARAS – With the expected influx of passengers during the Manggahan Festival 2023 highlights, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) allowed special passenger roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) trips going to and from Guimaras on May 19 to 23.
One vessel of the F.F. Cruz Shipping Corporation will cater to these special trips.
The Iloilo Commercial Port Complex in Barangay Loboc, Lapuz district will be utilized temporarily to avoid congestion at the Iloilo River Wharf, in the said district.
The PPA also issued guidelines for the special trips.
Only four-wheeled non-cargo vehicles would be catered to at the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex, while RoRo vessels at the Iloilo River Wharf in Lapuz Norte would cater to both passengers and cargo vehicles.
The scheduled departures of ships from Iloilo Commercial Port Complex are the following: 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.; and 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
The PPA emphasized that walk-in passengers will not be allowed at the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex.
Earlier, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) 6 also allowed extended operating hours of sea vessels from Jordan, Guimaras to Iloilo City and vice versa from April 29 to May 22, upon the request of Gov. Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava.
MARINA-6 director Jeffrey A. Bangsa issued an order on this on April 27.
“The said request is hereby granted to provide flexibility of operations to ensure safe, reliable, convenient, continued public service, and speedy transportation of passengers and rolling cargoes subject to conditions,” read part of the order.
The following are the conditions as stated under MARINA Advisory No. 2015-10 (Guidelines during Emergency, Holiday Season, and Special Occasion), paragraph 3, which provides that “Ships can increase their sailing frequencies” and further provides that:
* The operations of the above-mentioned operators may be extended until 12 midnight for the RoRo operator and 2 a.m. for motorboat operators.
* The said operators may depart once their passenger or cargo capacities have been fully occupied or with a frequency of one hour and thirty minutes for the RoROo and one hour for the motorboat operators.
* The operators shall ensure that the vessels are, at all times, fully equipped with distress signals/equipment.
* The operators shall ensure that the vessels, at all times, comply with the limitations and conditions under the safety certificates; and
* This order shall only be valid on the following dates as requested by the local government unit (April 29 to May 1, May 5 to 7, May 12 to 14, and May 19 to 22)
The Manggahan Festival 2023 highlights will be on May 22 with the following activities: Agri-Fishery and Eco-Tourism Expo, Mango-Eat-All-You-Can, Provincehood Anniversary and Thanksgiving Mass, Wreath Laying in Commemoration of the Founder of Guimaras Province, Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava, groundbreaking of the Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital Outpatient Care building, Manggahan Street Dance Competition, 31st Provincehood Anniversary Program, Manggahan Cultural Competition, fireworks display, celebrity band performances, and Cultural Dance Competition awarding ceremony.
The Mango-Eat-All-You-Can, where guests can feast on the fruit for P150 within 30 minutes, will be from May 19 to 22 at the Capitol grounds. (With reports from the Provincial Government of Guimaras)/PN
