A wholly-owned subsidiary of Philippine Airlines plans to add more destinations for its inter-island ferry service business.
“We are still looking for other destinations because we plan to operate it from Kalibo to Boracay, (but the market has not yet accepted it),” said Mabuhay Maritime Express president Jaime Bautista said.
“We have reduced the operations and it’s not really making money at this time. We are looking at other possible areas of operations. It’s possible Batangas to Mindoro or Cebu to Tagbilaran,” he added.
MME, a wholly-owned unit of PAL, mounted regular Kalibo-Boracay ferry services using two brand-new 42-meter catamarans with tri-class configuration in October last year.
The 410-seater, high-speed catamarans, named MV Malambing and MV Magalang, will make four daily runs each initially.
“We aim to offer travelers a seamless air to sea transfer, taking passengers to their favorite tourist destinations as fast and as comfortable as possible,” Bautista, who is also the president and chief operating officer of PAL, earlier said.
More than 40-inter-island ferry companies have been plying the waters around the archipelago for decades, providing inexpensive transport for passengers, cargo and vehicles from major domestic points.
With support from the local government, MME is building its own jetty port in Kalibo, 10 minutes away from the airport where free shuttles are available for Boracay-bound passengers.
The hour-and-a-half ferry service will be fastest route to Boracay.
Apart from modern facilities and generous amenities, the two ferries have attendants that provide service similar to the pampering of a 4-star global airline.
MME earlier secured a green light from the Board of Investments as a domestic shipping operator of high-speed passenger ship with a project cost of P602 million to serve the Kalibo-Boracay route.
Boracay is popular with Chinese and South Korean visitors, which are also the largest markets for the Philippine tourism industry.