THE PASSENGER shipping route linking Manila to Davao was reopened on Sunday, Oct. 27, to allow a more affordable transportation option between the country’s north and south. The Department of Transportation (DoTr), in a statement on Monday, said the inaugural trip was led by the main vessel of 2GO Group Inc., St. Michael the Archangel, with officials from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). “It is imperative that we establish public sea transport routes from Manila to Davao and other ports across the country. As an archipelago, the Philippines needs the services of efficient sea vessels that would cater to those who need affordable modes of transportation,” Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea said in the statement. The new route is expected to not only offer an alternative means to travel between Manila and Davao, but also lower the prices of goods transported between the two locations by opening access points for freight containers. The DoTr noted that the Manila-Davao route has been closed for almost 10 years, but is being reopened now as a response to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s request to provide better transportation options for residents in far-flung areas. Aside from the route’s launch, the PPA also opened a new passenger terminal building at the Davao Sasa Port on Sunday. A one-way ticket from Manila to Davao is priced at approximately P2,600. — Denise A. Valdez

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