JORDAN, Guimaras – Six fiberglass motorboats. Two roll on, roll off (roro) vessels. Two steel-hulled boats.
At the moment, these are the only sea vessels ferrying people across the Iloilo Strait going to either Iloilo City or the island province of Guimaras.
On Jan. 1 the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) grounded some 60 wooden-hulled motorboats servicing the route. The extension of their Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) which expired in September 2020 ended on Dec. 31.
To address the lack of motorboats – which resulted to the stranding of hundreds of people at the wharves in Guimaras and Iloilo City – MARINA Region 6 under Director Jose Venancio strategically scheduled the trips of the 10 remaining sea vessels beginning yesterday.
Three modernized motorboats were ordered to make trips every 15 minutes from the Iloilo Ferry Terminal-Parola (Iloilo City) to Buenavista, Guimaras and vice versa.
One of the two Atlantis Yohan Express boats, a steel-hulled boat that ferries both passengers and cargoes, also services this route.
The three other modernized boats, plus another Atlantis Yohan Express boat, were also ordered to leave the Ortiz wharf (Iloilo City) for Jordan wharf (Guimaras) and vice versa every 15 minutes.
On the other hand, the two roro vessels serve the Iloilo City to Guimaras route and vice versa from the wharf in Lapuz, Iloilo City to the Buenavista wharf in Guimaras.
“Waay na tinudlanay kon sin-o ma-trip. Once puno, larga dayun. Amo na ang order ni Director Vero,” said Guimaras’ Vice Gov. John Edward Gando.
He, however, stressed that the long-term solution is increasing the number of modern motorboats.
In fact, he said, the provincial government of Guimaras released P3-million financial assistance each to the motorboat associations in Jordan and Buenavista for the acquisition of more fiberglass boats./PN
