By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Fastcraft trips from Bacolod City to Iloilo City and vice versa are temporarily suspended starting today after the National Inter-Agency Task Force placed Iloilo City under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 31 due to a significant spike in COVID-19 cases.

Based on a sea travel advisory signed by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)–Negros Occidental station commander Captain Ludovico Librilla, both inbound and outbound travel of passengers between Iloilo City and Negros island will be suspended effective 12:00 a.m. today until 11:59 p.m. of May 31, 2021.

Although passenger services are barred, the movement of cargoes will remain unimpeded.

Travel between Bacolod City and Dumangas town in Iloilo is also still ongoing as the port’s jurisdiction falls under the province of Iloilo.

Meanwhile, Frank Carbon, operator of Weesam Express, said they have received the advisory from the PCG, hence they will stop their trips.
He said they will advise the public again as soon as the PCG allows the resumption of fastcraft trips between the two cities./DGB, WDJ