BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Starting this month, fast craft operators are adding more trips from this city to Iloilo City and vice versa.
This is in preparation for more passengers expected to go home for the holidays, according to Frank Carbon, operator of Weesam Express.
In fact, in recent weeks, there was a notable increase in the number of passengers, Carbon revealed.
He hopes that cases of coronavirus disease 2019 would consistently drop in the next few weeks so their operations will not be halted.
Sea travel was suspended for roughly eight months due to restrictions imposed by authorities to contain the spread of the viral illness.
It was only in late October when fast crafts were allowed to set sail again.
The move is gradually bringing back livelihood of various sectors, said Carbon, also the chief executive officer Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“The reopening of trips so far generated P200,000 to P300,000,” he added.
For his part, Commander Ludovico Librilla, Philippine Coast Guard-Negros Occidental station chief, said the number of people entering and leaving the Simplicio Palanca Sea Terminal at the Bredco port is getting bigger.
Fastcraft operators recently said the low number of sea travelers was discouraging them from resuming their operations.
Librilla observed that sea travelers were following health safety protocols such as the wearing of facemask and face shield, physical distancing and washing of hands with soap and water or disinfectant.
The PCG commander believed the number of ship passengers would further balloon as the holiday season draws near./PN
