After three months of cessation due to community quarantine brought about by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, fastcraft plying Iloilo-Bacolod route has finally resumed its operation Saturday, June 20.
Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Region 6 Directer Jose Venancio Vero confirmed that the fastcraft company already sent notice of the resumption of their trips between two Western Visayan cities.
Vero said that the vessels are only allowed to ferry 50 percent passenger capacity, and minimum health standard protocols such as physical distancing and use of face mask must be strictly imposed.
Based on the guidelines of local government units, only Western Visayas residents are allowed in the sea travel, and they must show valid identification such as government-issued IDs, or company ID showing their proof of residency prior to ticket purchase and before entry to the Passenger Terminal.
Since modified general community quarantine are still enforced, senior citizens and those below 21 years old are still not allowed to travel.
Each fastcraft companies are only allowed four trips per day. See schedule below.
SUPERCAT:ILO-BCD (10:30AM, 5:00PM), BCD-ILO (7:30 AM, 2:10 PM)
WEESAM: ILO-BCD (6:30AM, 2:30PM), BCD-ILO (9:50AM, 4:45PM)
OCEAN JET: ILO-BCD (7:20AM, 1:00PM), BCD-ILO (5:45AM, 11:00AM)
Coast Guard Iloilo Station Commander Joe Luvis Mercurio said they will deploy more personnel to help the local government in the implementation of the guidelines. They are also discouraging ‘leisure travel’ or those without essential purposes in taking the trips. (Photo by Supercat)
