Cokaliong Shipping now sails Cebu-Ubay (Bohol) route

SHIPPING giant Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc. (CSLI) is deploying its newest vessel to serve Cebu-Ubay (Bohol), a Missionary Route that further enhances Bohol’s connectivity, above all boosts trade and tourism in the Municipality of Ubay.

The leading shipping operator is holding the Inauguration and Blessing of M/V Filipinas Ubay today, March 11, 2023, at the Port of Ubay with guests of honor headed by Senator Imee Marcos, Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, 2nd District Rep. Maria Vanessa Aumentado, and Ubay Mayor Constantino Reyes.

On Sunday, March 12, M/V Filipinas Ubay will commence its daily sailing schedule, leaving the port of Ubay at 8 a.m. and arriving in Port of Cebu at 12 noon. The vessel will sail back to Port of Ubay on the same day, leaving Port of Cebu at 8 p.m. and arriving in Port of Ubay at 12 midnight. Ticket prices are P400 for economy accommodation and P440 for tourist accommodation.

Specifications

M/V Filipinas Ubay (formerly known as M/V Seto II) is a roll-on roll-off passenger vessel that was built in Japan in 2003. It has a gross tonnage of 979, an overall length of 65.80 meters, a breadth of 14.70 meters, and a passenger capacity of 356. It runs on two units of Yanmar 956KW main engines and two units of Yanmar 180KW auxiliary engines.

The vessel is the 15th roro-passenger in the Cokaliong fleet, which are all well maintained and in seaworthy condition.

The latest acquisition is outfitted with state-of-the-art navigational equipment including an SSB Radiotelephone, a VHF Radiotelephone, an Automatic Identification System (AIS), a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Navigational Telex (NAVTEX), an Echo Sounder, a Gyro Compass, an Auto Pilot system, and a Radar.

This ship is internationally classed with Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), which is headquartered in Italy and is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). This addition makes 90% of the Cokaliong Fleet IACS-classed.

Purposely bought

The Maritime Industry Authority granted CSLI a Missionary Route Status for Cebu-Ubay-Cebu route which means that the shipping operator will enjoy investment protection for five years and a 50 percent discount on regular fees for all applications and renewal of ship documents, licenses and certificates.

CSLI invested P110 million for its latest vessel.

According to Atty. Chesna Cokaliong, Chief of Staff of CSLI, M/V Filipinas Ubay was purposely bought for the town of Ubay, Bohol following the persistent and long-standing request and invitation of more than three years of now Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, during his stint in Congress to her father Chester Cokaliong, Founder, Chief Executive Office and Chief Operating Officer of CSLI.

“After winning the election, Gov. Aumentado called my father again to help realize the Cebu-Ubay route. We looked for a vessel in Japan late last year. So, this vessel was really imported for the people of Ubay,” said Atty. Chesna Cokaliong, adding that this new route is a welcome addition to the company’s growing number of inter-island connections in the Visayas and Mindanao.

More importantly, the addition of M/V Filipinas Ubay generates additional employment of 30 Officers and crew members.

Ubay’s thriving economy

This new link of Bohol via the Municipality of Ubay is seen to bolster trade and tourism, allowing for a seamless flow of goods and people. For traders, this will open new market access and opportunities while for tourists, this new route could be the new gateway to rediscovering more of Bohol’s tourism assets.

Located on the northeast side of Bohol, Ubay is a first-class municipality with 44 barangays with a combined population of 81,799, making the town the largest and most populated town, according to the 2020 census.

Second District Rep. Maria Vanessa Aumentado has filed before Congress a bill seeking to convert the Municipality of Ubay into a component city of the Province of Bohol to be known as the Science City of Ubay after being considered as the science techno-hub center of the province.

Ubay is considered the dairy capital of the province and home to the Philippine Carabao Center-Ubay stock farm which is the largest and oldest government livestock and research facility for cows, carabaos, sheep, and goats in the Philippines. It is also the center for agri-industrial production and one of the biggest producers of poultry products in Central Visayas produced by Marcela Farms Inc. of the Alturas Group. The town is also a top producer of fish products and is considered the rice granary of Bohol with 51 percent of its land area dedicated to agriculture.

Ubay is also home to the Bohol Experimental Station for rice research and development, the Sinandigan Multi-Species Hatchery of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Ubay Green Park and Techno Center, among others.