Cebu Shipping Firm Launches ‘Water Jeepney’

On Tuesday, February 19, MCE Shipping Lines held its inauguration of the MyBoat coastal routes at the Naga Baywalk beside the Philippine Coast Guard--Naga City substation.

The inaugaration was led by Dr. Nelson Mejia Jr. , chief executive officer of MCE Shipping Lines, and attended by Mayor Elanito Peña of Minglanilla, Cebu 6th District Rep. Samsam Gullas, Cebu’s 3rd District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, Mayor Vanessa Chiong of Naga City, and Maritime Industry Authority OIC Narciso Vingson Jr.

The MyBoat fleet--which is comprised of 15-seater boats dubbed 'water jeepneys'--will serve passengers traveling from Talisay City to Cebu City and vice versa. Meanwhile, a bigger vessel with a 64 passenger-carrying capacity will cater to passengers heading to Naga City from Cebu City and vice versa. Both routes are scheduled to start operations in March.

Dr.Mejia said that that the water jeepneys will have a maximum travel time of 30 minutes, offering a great alternative to those who face the grueling Metro Cebu traffic on a daily basis.

According to Mejia, commuters who will take the sea routes only have to endure 30 minutes of travel time from Naga City to Cebu's Pier 3, adding that the Naga-bound vessel is now 90 percent complete and will soon be delivered by its manufacturer, Steven Deans Marine Inc., in Liloan, Cebu.

"Minglanilla to Pier 3 will take you for only 20 minutes," he added. "When you are from Talisay, you only have 10 minutes to reach Cebu City."

"Traffic congestion is a sign that there is progress in a place. On the other hand, each one of us has experienced traffic. Sea transport system will augment such problem," he said, referring to a recent study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency stating that Metro Cebu's traffic accounts for PHP1.1 billion in economic and opportunity losses.