Pier 88, SEABUS to decongest traffic, spur biz devt in northern Cebu

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

LILOAN, Cebu – Pier 88, a new commercial port in Liloan, Cebu and entry of eight Seabus ferry services from Liloan to Mactan are expected to decongest traffic and spur business/economic development in northern Cebu.

Developed and introduced by the Topline Group of Companies, Pier 88 and Seabus ferry projects were envisioned by the local government unit of Liloan some seven years ago to ease the burden of more than 10,000 commuters and workers from Liloan and other Cebu north towns to the Mactan Economic Processing Zone (MEPZ).

Pier 88 and Topline Group of Companies president and CEO Eugene Erik Lim, in his presentation during the onsite inauguration of Pier 88 and Seabus christening on October 24 that Pier 88 is a 3-phase Port/Commercial development spanning a land area of approximately 3 hectares and is being developed in partnership with Liloan LGU, Viking Land, FL International and the Topline Group of Companies.

Lim said that this is a mixed-use development that offers commercial spaces for lease to house house restaurants offering al fresco dining with the added attraction of a sea front vista, affording diners a scenic view with the gentle ocean breeze.

Slated to be fully operational in mid-2023, Pier 88 serves as a faster alternative route for commuters and is expected to bring enhanced connectivity and mobility serving as a marine highway linking Liloan to the rest of the island of Cebu as well as an economic gateway for Northern Cebu.

In addition to Pier 88 is the new Topline Seabus, a modern passenger vessel that can accommodate approximately 150 passengers and equipped with state-of-the art engines that will be launched on October 2021 and will be serving this new marine route of Liloan, Cebu-Mactan, Cebu and vice versa, making it convenient to travel to and from mainland Cebu.

Trips from Liloan to Cebu City and Mactan Island and vice-versa will soon be shortened from the usual two hours to only 30-45 minutes.  Convenient and traffic-free commute will soon be available to the residents, businesses and visitors of Liloan with Pier 88.

Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia said during the same event that this milestone in Liloan is a welcome development for the entire Cebu Province as these challenge the other local government units to work harder for more economic spillover to the other towns and cities of the province.

Garcia said that these are visionary projects that would propel Liloan town to greater heights and hopefully in the future, Liloan becomes a city.

Liloan mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco said that these developments in Liloan has been the town’s dream seven or eight years ago with former mayor Duke Frasco, now the congressman of Cebu’s fifth district. “It was a dream with friends that came into being today,” she added.

Cebu’s 5^th district congressman Duke Frasco thanked Topline Group of Companies and all the partners for making these milestone projects possible and he pledged to continue to support development and economic projects not only for Liloan but for the 5^th district and for Cebu Province as well.

Among Frasco's projects that are now underway are the Camotes Airport, Liloan-Danao-Asturias road and two new universities for Liloan and Borbon towns.

Guests during the inauguration included Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Brigitte Lim-Mueller, vice president of operations of Topline Group of Companies, Jopher Bugtai, Pier 88 Ventures, Inc operations & accounts officer,  Bryan Joe Valencia of LVC Asia, Inc. and local officials from Liloan. (Photos: Robby Alugar/RMANews)