On 28-October-2018, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) together with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will re-open the Davao-General Santos-Iloilo Passenger Shipping Route.

The re-establishment of ferry operations from Manila to Davao and vice versa is expected to address the lack of an accessible route that has been unavailable for a long time. It also aims to interconnect Luzon to Mindanao, bring people closer, give passengers more travel options, and lower the prices of goods and commodities with the accessibility of freight containers between Davao to Manila.

“Matagal na pong nawala ang Manila-Davao pero sa panahon ni Pangulong Duterte bubuksan po ulit natin ‘yan. Currently, the easiest way to reach Davao from Manila is through flying and some of our people cannot afford that. We want Luzon to be interconnected with Mindanao to likewise increase economic activity,” said DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade.

2GO Group Inc. will be providing vessels to serve the route and bring back the access to affordable, safe, and fast travel to ordinary Filipinos.

President Rodrigo Duterte will lead the inauguration, along with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, DOF Sec. Carlos Dominguez, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, DPWH Sec. Mark Villar, DBM Sec. Benjamin Diokno, NEDA Sec. Ernesto Pernia, BCDA Pres. And CEO Vince Dizon, DOT Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, MinDA Sec. Datu Abdul Khayr Dangcan Alonto and Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte. They will be joined by other key officials from the government and the private sector.

In addition, the PPA will also launch the new and improved Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in Sasa Wharf in the Port of Davao.

The new PTB will house modern amenities such as a pre-departure waiting area, screening areas for passengers and baggage, boarding gates, and clean comfort rooms. It is now ready to provide a convenient and comfortable experience to port passengers.