THE Topline Seabus, set to ferry passengers from Liloan to Mactan Island in the first quarter of 2022, is good news for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Central Visayas (LTFRB 7), as it could help ease traffic congestion along the national highway.
Liloan is part of Metro Cebu. Before the pandemic, the traffic had been ugly almost every day in the town, especially in the lane going to the cities of Mandaue and Cebu where several northerners work.
If the Seabus is fully operational, it could give options to commuters to avail of its services, LTFRB 7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr.
The Seabus was christened on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, during the inauguration of Pier 88, its port of call. The sea vessel can accommodate 150 passengers, and it will be serving the new marine route of Liloan to Mactan and vice versa. The two hour travel from Liloan to Mactan would be reduced to 45 minutes.
“We will support this. It’s a good project, no doubt,” Montealto said.
Pier 88 is expected to be fully operational in the middle of 2023.
The Seabus will have a dry run in December 2021. The passenger operation is slated in the first quarter of 2022 and the Roro operation will be operational in the second quarter of 2022.
Topline Group of Companies invested P1 billion for the development of Pier 88, a three-hectare land area, which is expected to improve the mobility of the residents from Liloan and neighboring northern Cebu towns.
Pier 88, in partnership with the Municipality of Liloan, Viking Land, FL International and Topline Group of Companies, features a mixed-use development offering commercial spaces for lease. (JOB)