‘Put up more ferry services for Lapu’
CPA general manager believes that a ferry service will help decongest traffic in Metro Cebu
THE Cebu Port Authority (CPA) has encouraged investors to put up a ferry service from Cebu mainland to Mactan island to give commuters a choice of transportation and help decongest vehicular traffic in Metro Cebu.
CPA General Manager Edmund Tan said any investor who is interested in operating a vessel between Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City or Talisay City to Lapu-Lapu City is welcome.
Earlier, Compostela, Cebu Mayor Joel Quino said his administration is planning to put up a ferry service between his town and Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) to reduce the travel time of his constituents who are working there.
Workers
Quino said that if a vessel will ply between Compostela and Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City, the workers in the manufacturing firms at MEZ who are residents of Compostela and Danao City will not anymore suffer from the lingering traffic problem in Liloan and Consolacion.
“A ferry boat service will save the workers money, time and effort in going to their place of work and traveling back home,” Quino said.
Tan said that the MandaueMactan Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge are not the causes of congestion, but the road intersections.
“So, we give the options to the passengers, especially those going to Mactan (Cebu International) Airport whether to take the bus or the ferry. If they choose the ferry, they can take a ride at the passenger terminals at the pier going to Anton’s Wharf in Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City,” Tan said.
Travel
He said that Anton’s Wharf, which is near MEZ 1 is now operated by the Island Central Mactan Mall.
“It will take about 30 minutes from Cebu City pier area to Anton’s Wharf and five minutes from Anton’s Wharf to Mactan airport,” Tan said.
He said that the Oceanjet Fast Ferries is looking for smaller vessels that could regularly ply between Pier 1 and MEZ 1 with minimal effect on the waves in the shorelines at Mactan Channel.
Tan said that Oceanjet is also planning to ply a vessel from Anton’s Wharf to Bohol without passing Cebu City pier so passengers from Mactan airport who are bound for Bohol can shorten their travel time.
Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) 7 Director Nanette Villamor-Dinopol said that interested parties who will invest in ferry boat service may come to their office for guidance on how to apply for franchise.
Under the CPA Charter or Republic Act (RA) 7621, only the CPA can manage, operate, maintain and develop ports and port facilities in the entire Province of Cebu.
Marina has the power to accept, evaluate and approve the application for shipping franchise of the certificate of public convenience (CPC). EOB