A Cebu-based shipping firm has commissioned a fibre-reinforced plastic fastcraft to service the Clarin-Cebu sea route.
The CSS Sunriser II, a 100-seater vessel owned by the Cordova Inter-island Shipping, Inc., started its daily operations on Saturday.
“Lipay g’yud kaayo mi. Although kami pa lang ang nag-try g’yud niining dapita, hoping mi na wa mi magkamali sa amoang investment sa Clarin, Bohol,” said Corra Borromeo of Cordova Shipping.
Regular fee is at P250 while tickets are sold at P200 for senior citizens and PWDs. Tickets for students and children aged two to 11 are at P220 and P125, respectively.
According to Borromeo, the vessel can also accommodate motorcycles.
The vessel departs Clarin for Cebu City at 6:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. for a 1.5-hour trip. The vessel travels to Cebu back to Clarin at 8:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:45 p.m., said Borromeo.
For his part, Clarin Mayor Allen Piezas, in an interview on Sunday, said that he looks forward to the economic activity that the new sea trips will bring.
“Dako nato ning kalipay tungod kay ang atoang lungsod dugay na nangandoy na makabaton og usa ka barko. Although diha nay mga banka na nagbiyahe, pero wa pa with regards to fastcraft, brand new pa g’yud, fiberglass pa g’yud,” Piezas said.
He noted that Cordova Shipping has pledged to add another vessel to service the route should the current trips gain patronage.
“Nag-maiden voyage na ta gahapon, ubay ubay pud ang pasahero na ming sakay,” he said. “Mi commit sila nato na kung maayo ang dagan maong barko, willing sila mo dugang og usa pa aronmagtagbo-tagbo.”
Meanwhile, the Regional Development Council 7 has already approved the endorsement of a P125-million budget for the improvement of Clarin’s port, said Piezas.
“We are looking forward to the implemenbtation of that project by 2019,” he added. (AD)