353 passengers travel upon resumption of fast craft trips

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Negros Occidental said 353 passengers travelled from Bacolod to Iloilo and vice-versa upon resumption of fast craft vessel operations on Oct 31, 2020.

Commander Jansen Benjamin, PCG-Negros Occidental head, said 196 were inbound (going to Bacolod) passengers and 157 were outbound passengers.

Benjamin said only two fast crafts resumed their operations after more than three months of suspension due to the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Iloilo City and Bacolod City in the past months.

These two fast crafts have only two trips per day, he added.

Benjamin said they have not encountered any problems during the resumption of sea travel as passengers complied with the health protocols and swab test for non-residents of Bacolod.

He said the third fast craft vessel was supposed to resume their operations last Saturday but since their employees have yet to return for work, they did not cater any passengers yet.

Meanwhile, Benjamin said they held a passenger and cargo vessel at Bredco port supposedly bound for Manila yesterday because of super typhoon Rolly.

He said passengers bound for Manila were advised to go home for their safety until they are allowed to travel.