TWO new sea vessels are now ferrying commuters to and from Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City.

Eric Lim, the Topline Marina chief executive officer and president, said the double-decker boats travel to Pier 3 in Cebu City over 30 minutes. Each has 325 seats.

The Topline Express Ferry boats are docked at the Mactan Wharf, behind the Island Central Mactan (ICM) in Barangay Ibo.

“Our target commuters are the local commuters, MEPZ (Mactan Export Processing Zone) workers and tourists,” Lim said.

Mayor Paz Radaza said the boats can help the workers avoid the traffic jams in the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu.

The two boats will start crossing the Mactan Channel at 5 a.m. These vessels will carry passengers until 8 p.m.

The regular one-way fare is fixed at P25, while the student fare is at P22. The P20-fare is for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), while the fare is free for children aged three and below.

Commuters can buy tickets at the ICM information counter, Mactan Wharf’s ticket booth and outside the gate of Cebu City Pier 3.

Brigitte Mueller, Topline Marina vice president for operations, said the commuters can avail themselves of their P15 promo fare until Dec. 31.

Mueller said they will give special rates to the workers of export zones, including the free shuttle bus service.

She said the pick-up and drop-off point of the shuttle service is outside the gate of MEPZ 1. (from FVQ of SuperBalita Cebu/KAL)