It has been announced that a direct sea route between Manila and Bohol Island is set to make a comeback this month.
The relaunch comes after the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Bohol’s Tagbilaran City completed preparations to accommodate one of 2Go Travel’s ferries.
According to PPA Tagbilaran manager James Gantalao, the authority has deepened the channel on the route to Tagbilaran pier.
The PPA is now waiting for an official announcement from 2Go on when this month the official relaunch will happen.
Management is expected to hasten the relaunching of the trips in a bid to meet the demand for travel accommodations during Bohol’s so-called “fiesta season” this May.
Tourism authorities on the island are also anticipating a busy summer this year, due to the six-month closure of Boracay for “environmental rehabilitation”.
The shipping firm has previously announced that it is planning to offer two to three Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila trips per week.
In current sea trips between Tagbilaran and Manila, passengers have to connect two or more ferry journeys by bus.
At time of publishing, the 2GO website contains no details of the revived service.
The introduction of new sea routes are frequently delayed in the Philippines. For example, we have frequently reported on the postponement of a new service linking Bataraza town, Palawan, with Kudat in Sabah.
We first reported last November, that the service was due to begin in December. This was then rescheduled for February, but again delayed due to bad weather.
Then, in March, we reported that it was promised to get underway last month. However, the new service failed to materialise in April, and no new target has been announced for its launch.
Sabah’s Daily Express has reported that the service was unlikely to start soon.