THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has permitted Negros Navigation Co. Inc., the holding company of 2GO Group Inc., to provisionally operate several routes between Manila and cities in Mindanao to cater to the demand for the October holidays.
Originally applied by 2GO, Marina allowed Negros Navigation to operate these destinations from Manila: Iloilo, Zamboanga, General Santos and Davao. The vessels to be used by the listed company for the said routes are still “under final repairs,” hence the provisional granting of authority to its parent company.
2GO is also still waiting for the issuance of its certificate of public convenience.
Marina said the reopening of the routes between the country’s capital and Mindanao cities will provide passengers with “a cheaper transport option,” saying current prices for an air trip will range for P3,000 to P5,000 per sector, while the Manila-Davao route is only P2,600 per way.
“As the single maritime administration in the Philippines that is responsible in establishing and prescribing routes, zones or areas of operations of domestic ship operators, Marina supports the reopening of passenger shipping operations to serve the Manila-Iloilo-Zamboanga-General Santos-Davao routes,” Marina said.
Udenna Corp. is the holding company of the two maritime firms. It is controlled by Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy, a close associate of President Duterte, who ordered Marina to provide “safe, convenient and comfortable means of transportation for passengers living in far-flung areas.”