Maiden voyage previously scheduled for last month
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After indicating last May that a floating restaurant, which is expected to sail the Sum-ag River between Barangays Sum-ag, Cabug, and Punta Taytay, would have its maiden voyage either by Bacolod City’s Charter Day celebration, June 18, or the San Juan Festival, June 23, Bacolod City Administrator John Orola said operations may not begin until September.
“We are going to create activities,” he explained. “We have to train people in order for them to know the services to offer.”
The attraction, which cost P3.4 million, is said to accommodate around 30 passengers.
Earlier this year, Orola discussed the type of experience patrons would encounter, noting, one of the stops included on the trip includes entertainment by the local Gawad Kalinga community in Sum-ag, along with a presentation of local delicacies and various services.
In addition, despite acknowledging other floating restaurants operating throughout the country, such as the highly-touted floating restaurants along the Loboc River in Bohol, Orola insisted, “This project will be the first of its kind.”
The city administrator added, “The city is still complying the needed requirements in order to operate the floating restaurant, particularly the requirement from the Maritime Industry Authority to determine the [seaworthiness] of the floating restaurant.”
He said the vessel’s capability to navigate must still be verified, along with assuring safety for the passengers and crew./DGB, WDJ