Shipping lines said to be mulling reopening of Tacloban routes

published May 18, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — Shipping companies are considering the reopening of services between Tacloban and the cities of Cebu and Manila.

Winfred Elizalde, Tacloban port manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), said at least two shipping companies have expressed interest in the routes.

"I cannot yet mention what these shipping firms are since the plan is not yet final. They are very upbeat to resume the sea travel to Tacloban because of the good market," Mr. Elizalde said.

He said the recent upgrading of Tacloban into a highly urbanized city was a factor considered by the two shipping lines.

"They see a great potential in the region that’s why they are connecting with us," the port manager told BusinessWorld.

After the tragedy that befell M/V Princess of the Stars in June last year, the Sulpicio Lines-owned M/V Cebu Princess stopped sailing to the city. The vessel was the only passenger ship that transported people from Tacloban to Cebu and Metro Manila that time.

Prior to the Sulpicio Lines operation, only one passenger ship, M/V Samar Star, served the Tacloban-Cebu route.

Due to the lack of sea travel services, most travelers from Tacloban have to take a land trip to Ormoc City in western Leyte, where fastcraft services to Cebu are offered.

Sea travel from Tacloban suffered a huge decline after the M/V Doña Paz collided with an oil tanker between Mindoro and Tablas Islands in December 1987. The accident claimed over 4,000 lives, mostly residents of this city. Another accident was the sinking of M/V Marilyn near Camotes Island that killed 250 people from Eastern Visayas in October 1988.

Aiming to stimulate sea travel, the PPA is improving its facilities here starting with the conversion of its existing 720-square-meter office building into a passenger terminal after the completion of a new office building worth P80 million this year.

"Before starting the renovation, we have to convince our main office that the proposed terminal will be filled with passengers or else they won’t release the fund for remodeling of the building," Mr. Elizalde said. — Sarwell Q. Meniano