FIRST LADY LEADS LAUNCH OF 2GO'S NEWEST SHIP

FIRST lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos on Friday led the launch of 2GO Travel's newest Roll-On, Roll-Off passenger (ropax) vessel, the MV 2GO Masigla, at Manila's North Harbor.

Frederic Dybuncio, 2GO president and chief executive officer, said the vessel represents 2GO's commitment to provide seagoing passengers with cruise-like amenities while remaining affordable for Filipinos.

The Maligaya features upgraded facilities and amenities such as spacious cabins, suite rooms, a restaurant, clinic and shopping stores.

"The ship is designed to pamper passengers and make their voyage truly exceptional when they are aboard a floating mall and hotel on the sea, a first of its kind in the country," 2GO Travel said in a statement.

"The ship can carry more cargo, and its passengers can do more things [while] on board," Sharon Musngi-Ngo, Business Unit head of 2GO Sea Solutions, said.

The 163-meter ship was made in Japan and sailed in Korea before it was brought to the Philippines.

Will Howell, 2GO chief financial officer and treasurer, said the vessel has a maximum capacity of about 700 passengers.

"One of its selling points is that each passenger is allowed with 50 kilograms of cargo each. Pets are also allowed to be transported with this vessel," he said.

The Masigla is the sister ship of MV 2GO Maligaya, the country's largest and most technologically advanced ropax vessel.

It has 50 percent faster turnaround times than traditional freighters plying the cities of Manila, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan.

Howell also said 2GO is looking at expanding its routes to General Santos and Davao City by the end of the year.

Commodore Arnaldo Lim, commander of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District NCR-Central Luzon, said the PCG ensures the safety of seagoing passengers traveling on rebuilt and refurbished vessels like Masigla through safety inspections.

"We also enforce safety regulations, thus, ensuring that all ship owners and operators maintain the upkeep of their vessels," Lim said.

"The launch of 2GO's newest ship in NCR by the First Lady showcases the maritime industry's importance in the Philippines, promoting economic growth and connectivity. Her involvement signals support for 2GO and government commitment to enhancing transportation across the archipelago," Lim said.

The launching was also attended by Enrique Razon, chairman and chief executive officer of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), and Jabeth Dacanay of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Howell said the shipping company feels "that there's definitely room to grow, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao region. But there are headwinds as well within the geopolitical landscape. So I would say we're just very cautiously optimistic."

The 2GO Group, which is part of SM Investments Corp., is the largest point-to-point transportation and logistics provider in the country, with five business units: 2GO Sea Solutions, 2GO Special Containers and Value-Added Services (SCVASI), 2GO Express, 2GO Forwarding, and 2GO Logistics.

2GO offers multimodal transportation, warehousing and inventory management, special containers and project logistics, as well as e-commerce logistics, including last-mile deliveries and express courier deliveries.

2024-04-26T16:36:02Z dg43tfdfdgfd