By BETHEENA UNITE
From three to four hours travel time from Cavite to Manila and vice versa, the perennial travel woe will be drastically reduced to only 20 minutes with the operation of “water jeepneys” starting Monday.
The good news does not stop there as the riding public will get free rides from Cavite to Manila and vice versa for a month, starting December 9, Monday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade announced Sunday during the launching of the water jeepneys.
According to the secretary, two shipping companies — Seaborne Shipping Company Inc. and Shogun Ships Co. Inc. — agreed to give free rides for the public when their operations begin.
The transportation system called Cavite-Manila Ferry Service is a Christmas gift for the commuters, Tugade said.
Starting Monday, the water jeepneys will ply a route from Cavite City Port Terminal at the Cavite City Hall to the CCP Port and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila and vice versa.
“Hangarin ng programang ito na bigyan ng alternatibong paraan ng pagbiyahe ang mga kababayan nating taga-Cavite. Programang para sa kapakanan, convenience at comfort ng mga taga-Cavite,” Tugade said.
The program dubbed as “Okay Ka, Ferry Ko” was launched along with two other projects under the department such as the Registration and Recreational Boats and the MARINA-Central Office Processing Center Marker at the PITX.
Tugade and officials from MARINA, Philippine Ports Authority, and local government of Manila and Cavite joined the ceremonial drive through from CCP Bay Terminal to Cavite City Port Terminal that only took 15 minutes.
“Ibabalik po natin ang efficiency ng mass public transportation system. Sinabi ni Mayor kanina, apat na oras ang biyahe. Ngayon, sumakay po kami galing ng MOA (Mall of Asia), 15 minutes lang andito na po kami sa Cavite. Tinatawagan ko ‘yung driver, hindi pa dumarating,” House Committee in Transportation Chairman Edgar Sarmiento said.
Operation of the vessel from Cavite to Lawton — MV Island Sabtang — will start as early as 5:15 in the morning until 7:45 p.m. First trip from Lawton to Cavite is at 6:30 a.m. while the last trip is set at 7 p.m. Regular fare is pegged at P160.
“MB Seaborne Mercury,” on the other hand, will start ferrying commuters from CCP to Cavite at 6 a.m. Last trip from CCP will be at 5:30 p.m. while last trip from Cavite will be at 6:30 p.m. Regular fare for this route will cost P200.
