GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The local government is pushing for the opening of more passenger ferry services at the Makar city port here.
Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Monday they are hoping that the resumption last week of operations here of leading inter-island passenger ferry company 2Go Travel will attract other players from the industry.
2Go reopened its ferry route to the cities of Davao, Zamboanga, Iloilo and Manila, more than six years after ceasing operations due to viability problems.
“I am happy that 2GO has decided to reopen a route of for their vessels here. After several years, we have a passenger ship docking here again,” Rivera said.
Two to three passenger vessels used to make weekly stops at the Makar port but ferry companies were forced to close the route six years ago mainly due to low passenger volume.
The opening of more flights to and from the city by the Philippine Airlines and budget carrier Cebu Pacific triggered the closure.
Rivera said the city’s expanding economy and business sector will mainly benefit from the reopening of more passenger ferry services at the city port.
“Having a commercial transport system on the sea diversifies our capability as a business hub. It gives us more means to transport goods and services to other places,” he said.
For local passengers, the mayor said it serves as a “cost-efficient alternative” for travel to Manila and other areas.
A report from the city information office said another shipping line is slated to operate at the Makar port starting either this month or in December.
It said the company will serve the General Santos- Balut Island ferry route.
Cesar Dataya, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) manager here, assured that the Makar port is ready to accommodate more passenger ferry services.
Dataya said the agency has completed several improvements these past years to make the facility more conducive as a docking port for commercial vessels.
“We are ready. We already have complete amenities and are working on further improving them,” he said.
PPA has expanded the port’s passenger terminal and other facilities for the operations of cargo vessels, among them the upgrading of the port’s crane last year worth PHP593 million. (PNA)
