ILOILO CITY -- Roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels plying the Iloilo-Guimaras route are temporarily suspending their trips on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
This is to give their crew and personnel time to be with their families during these special holidays, Lt. Rodolfo dela Peña, Iloilo station commander of the Philippine Coast Guard, said in an interview Friday.
“The trips will resume after the Christmas and New Year as assured by the operators of our Ro-Ro vessels,” he said.
Dela Peña said there are a total of 16 round trips of Ro-Ro vessels plying between Iloilo and Guimaras daily. These vessels are operated by FF Cruz Shipping Corp. and M/V Felipe.
Aside from the temporary suspension of the trips on December 25 and January 1, dela Peña said there are also some adjustments on the trips of these Ro-Ro vessels starting December 18.
Instead of operating from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., he said that they will only operate from 6:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Meanwhile, dela Peña said that the motorized bancas will continue their operations even on Christmas and New Year.
“Passengers could still enjoy traveling back and forth to Iloilo or Guimaras because our motorized bancas will cater to them,” he said.
Based on their latest assessment, dela Peña said the passengers at the ports here remain manageable and orderly.
The influx of passengers is expected starting December 23 or 24, he said.
Since the activation of “Oplan Ligtas Biyahe Christmas 2018” last December 10, passengers assistance desks were already in place in all ports here to assist commuters, as well as accommodate their complaints and concerns.
Dela Peña said they remain strict in their pre-departure inspection of baggage to see to it that passengers are not carrying harmful objects, such as deadly weapons and firearms, as well as illegal drugs.
He advised boat operators to ensure that engines of their boats are functioning well to avoid trouble during their travel.
He also told them to be vigilant of weather forecasts and expect temporary suspension of trips if needed. (PNA)
