New Samar-Luzon Sea Route Enhances Economic Prospects for Calbayog City

CALBAYOG CITY — The recent inauguration of a sea route connecting Calbayog City in Samar province to Matnog, Sorsogon, heralds significant economic opportunities for the locality. Mayor Raymund Uy highlighted on Wednesday the operational benefits derived from the commencement of MV Poseidon 49’s voyages, particularly for local trucking operators who will now bypass the two-hour journey to Allen Port for a direct roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel service to Matnog Port.

According to Philippines news Agency, the new maritime link promises to alleviate the delays experienced by cargoes in Matnog awaiting transit to Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. In a bid to further streamline the process, he advocated for the establishment of a priority lane at Maguino-o port, dedicated to cargo trucking operators from Calbayog, to facilitate more efficient travel logistics.

The maiden voyage of MV Poseidon 49, operated by Ormoc City-based ALD Sea Transport on January 28, aims to bolster connectivity between Samar Island and Luzon. This development comes as the Philippine Ports Authority anticipates traffic congestion on parts of Samar Island due to an upcoming major overhaul of the national highway. The shipping company has committed to a schedule of three daily trips, catering exclusively to carriage freight and rolling cargo.

The vessel, with dimensions of 93 meters in length and 16 meters in breadth, is equipped to transport up to 35 trucks per trip, with the journey from Calbayog to Matnog taking approximately three hours. ALD Sea Transport also operates additional maritime routes, including Ormoc to Cebu; San Ricardo, Southern Leyte to Lipata, Surigao del Norte; and Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte to Surigao del Norte, further underscoring its role in enhancing the regional transportation network.