Tacloban-Cebu sea route serves passengers again after 37 years

MAIDEN TRIP After close to four decades, a passenger vessel, MV Claudine Star, that will serve the route between the cities of Tacloban and Cebu docks at the Tacloban Port on Sept. 10. PHOTO COURTESY OF BIYAHERO

TACLOBAN CITY—A passenger vessel has sailed the route between the cities of Tacloban and Cebu for the first time after 37 years.

The MV Claudine Star, owned by Star Philippines Shipping Lines Inc., a subsidiary of Roble Shipping Inc., arrived in Tacloban, the provincial capital of Leyte, from Cebu City on Sept. 10, marking the start of its regular commercial voyages between the two cities.

The vessel was set to serve not only the people of Tacloban City but also other parts of Eastern Visayas.

Jose Emery Roble, the owner of the shipping company and a native of Hilongos town in Leyte, acknowledged the challenges of launching the Tacloban-Cebu route as no passenger vessels had operated from the Tacloban port for almost four decades.

“I hope the people of Tacloban and the entire Waray region will support the MV Claudine Star as we take on the challenge of operating here,” Roble said in an interview on Wednesday.

He said the last time a commercial passenger vessel operated in Tacloban was in 1987.

Although the port has continued to handle cargo vessels, the absence of passenger ships was attributed to deteriorating port facilities, especially berthing accommodations for larger modern vessels and the public’s shift to air travel for convenience and speed.

The 851-ton MV Claudine Star, a passenger and roll-on-roll-off cargo ship named after Roble’s daughter, will operate a regular schedule, departing Cebu for Tacloban on Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays with return trips from Tacloban to Cebu on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays.

The journey will take approximately 10 hours. The fare ranged from P850 (economy) to P7,000 (cabin suite). But the promotion rates of P680 (economy) and P888 (tourist accommodation) were being offered until the end of this year.

Roble expressed optimism that the public would once again embrace sea travel through their vessels, especially those traveling from Samar Island bound for Cebu.

“We’re also targeting passengers from Samar provinces who will no longer need to travel to Ormoc City or Hilongos to reach Cebu,” he said, referring to other Leyte ports servicing the Cebu route.

He added that beyond providing transportation, they hope their operations will boost tourism and contribute to the economic growth of the region.