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The causeway of Pier 88 in Liloan, Cebu has been inaugurated
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Pier 88 is a three-phase port and commercial development project
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Topline Seabus, a passenger vessel that will cut travel time from Liloan to Cebu City and Mactan Island to only 30 to 45 minutes, was also introduced on October 23
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Pier 88’s dry run will start in December 2021, with passenger operations scheduled for the first quarter of 2022 and roll-on/roll-off operations for the second quarter of next year
The causeway of Pier 88, a three-phase port and commercial development project in Liloan, Cebu, has been inaugurated with a dry run set in December 2021 and full operations slated for mid-2023.
The first quarter of 2022 will see the launch of passenger operations and second quarter, roll-on/roll-off operations.
Topline Seabus, a passenger vessel that will cut travel time between Liloan to Cebu City and Mactan Island to only 30 to 45 minutes from the usual two hours, was also introduced on October 23. Seabus’s port of call is Pier 88.
Topline Seabus can accommodate 150 passengers, is fuel efficient, and will be manned by only four people. Topline Seabus will serve two routes: Liloan-Mactan route which will dock at Mactan Wharf near Mactan Export Processing Zone, and Liloan-Cebu City route which will dock at Cebu City Pier 3.
Eight more Topline Seabus vessels have been ordered for delivery on a staggered schedule.
Pier 88 is a public-private partnership project developed by the Topline Group of Companies in partnership with the municipal government of Liloan, Viking Land, and FL International.
The project, which officially broke ground in March 2019, is envisioned as an alternative route for commuters and a new economic gateway for northern Cebu. It is expected to benefit some 10,000 residents from the northern towns and cities working in Mactan Island and the central city of Cebu.
Topline president and chief executive officer Eugene Erik Lim, in a presentation during the inauguration, said Pier 88 is also envisioned to be a “smart port system.” The passenger terminal will be QR code- and radio frequency identification-ready and will integrate Topline’s travel application to allow passengers a convenient and seamless experience with just a tap of their smartphones.
The project includes a mixed-use development for commercial spaces where passengers can stay while waiting for their trip.
