Transport and Cargo Company 2Go Group, Inc. has waived the rental fee of their two maritime vessels commissioned by the Philippine government to be used as quarantine facilities.
2GO Chairman Dennis Uy emphasized in a statement that consultation has been made with shareholders and he has directed to waive the expected payment of Php 35 million worth of rental fee for the private ships.
Uy said he can shell out from his own pocket to fund the operation expense of the vessels. He also apologized if the matter has offended others. He promised to continue working with the private and government sectors.
The quarantine ships are currently being used for returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and seafarers in the country. Almost 300 Filipinos are staying in the floating hospitals.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) thanked the move of the shipping company and clarified that the initial rate of Php 120 million was slashed to Php 35 million “taking into consideration vessel operating expenditures such as its fuel, electricity, water, maintenance, supplies, and actual salaries of manpower of the crew and hotel staff to effectively run the ship, and equating it with bed space usage.”
The DOTr said the payment has not yet been released to the shipping company. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
