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First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos led the launch of 2GO’s newest passenger ship
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MV Masigla services Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan and Manila
MV Masigla, the 2GO Group’s newest addition to its fleet, was launched last week with First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos leading the ceremony.
With the ship, which services Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan and Manila, 2GO promises a 50% faster flow of passengers and goods than traditional vessels, said Frederic DyBuncio, 2GO president and CEO.
He said MV Masigla, a passenger and roll on-roll off vessel, sets a new standard for passenger comfort and service, representing “our common vision for the Philippines where we aspire for more vibrant communities and thriving industries.”
With the ship, DyBuncio added they continue to become a catalyst towards the realization of that goal “by providing our passengers with cruise-like amenities that elevate sea travel while remaining affordable for the Filipino.”
Aside from the First Lady, other guests in attendance included International Container Terminal Services Inc CEO Enrique Razon, SM Prime executive committee chairman Hans Sy, SM Investments Corp vice chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson, and 2Go executives Will Howell (chief finance officer), Sharon Musngi-Ngo (head of sea solutions), and Apollo Santos (management and technical services.
Howell, who also serves as 2GO treasurer, said they expect to grow faster than the country’s expected economic growth. “Typically, as a metric, we try to grow maybe two times the GDP,” he said. The government expects growth this year at between 6% and 7%.
But Howell also warned of “headwinds…within the geopolitical landscape.” As such, they are cautiously optimistic of near-term prospects.
The MV Masigla has spacious cabins and various menu options for what DyBuncio said was a great dining experience available to passengers.
It also has a host of shops for “pasalubong” while also having Watsons, Miniso, and Kultura shops onboard.
It is equipped with a clinic for the safety and well-being of passengers, making the ship the equivalent of “a floating mall.”
The 2Go Group is part of SM Investments Corp. and is considered the largest point-to-point transportation and logistics provider in the country.
The company offers multimodal transportation, warehousing and inventory management, special containers, and project logistics, among others.
