DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/February 20) – A Metro Manila-based shipbuilding company is eyeing to resume the Davao City – Lupon, Davao Oriental ferry boat operation in October, a City Council official said Tuesday.
Councilor Conrado Baluran, Committee of Transportation and Communications chair, said that shipping firm Pinoy Catamaran proposed the possibility of servicing the stalled ferry boat routes connecting Lupon and Davao City.
“The ferry boats will start from Lupon going to Magsaysay Park here, or in a docking area that we will be establishing,” Baluran said during the Aprubado sa Konseho press conference at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The proposed point-to-point (P2P) stopover stations in Davao City will be in Barangay Daliao in Toril, the coast near SM City Davao, Piapi Boulevard near Matina, Alcantara Port, Sta. Ana Wharf, Agdao, Mintrade Drive, Sasa Wharf, Tibungco, and Panacan.
Baluran said that ten initial ferry boats will be dispatched once the route is opened – one per each proposed P2P station.
The dry run for the 65-foot fiberglass Trimaran passenger ferries are scheduled in September this year, he added.
The Pinoy Catamaran is currently operating ferry boat routes in Pasig River, Laguna De Bay, and Manila Bay.
Baluran said that their counterparts at the Lupon municipal council had already approved the company’s proposal, while for Davao City, it is currently in the committee level.
He said the company recommended that the local government unit provide the berthing and docking spaces for the vessels.
To recall, the Davao City – Lupon ferry service was launched on February 18, 2010. Two 120-seater fastcrafts operated by Dans Penta General Services, Inc. serviced the route.
The Davao-Lupon route were scheduled then at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m, while the Lupon-Davao route were at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.
The land distance between Davao and Lupon was estimated at 123 kilometers, with a travel time of up to three hours through an air-conditioned bus.
The fastcraft alternative between the two areas would take only one hour and 12 minutes back then.
However, it ceased operations months later as its owner, Dante P. Sapalo, reportedly incurred losses and allegedly because of lack of support to establish a proper docking facility in Lupon.
A docking facility is a structure built on or near the water where boats or ships can tie up, usually for loading, unloading, repairs, or refueling. (Ian Carl Espinosa/MindaNews)
