FastCat to ply Zamboanga, Basilan
COTABATO CITY — FastCat Shipping Lines (FCSL), a newcomer in the local shipping scene, has received government approval to operate the Zamboanga-Basilan sea route, drawing support and optimism from the Bangsamoro region’s business community.
Basilan Governor Hadjiman H. Salliman said that Mark M. Saladino, FCSL’s assistant vice president for operations, visited him in Isabela City to discuss the upcoming voyages of their passenger vessels set to commence in about two months. At present, the construction of a ramp for FCSL fast crafts is underway at the Isabela City port.
Victor Moore I. Ututalum, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Isabela City, expressed satisfaction with the FCSL’s operation, citing its positive impact on Basilan’s economy, which comprises two cities and 11 municipalities.
There are three shipping companies operating in the Zamboanga-Basilan, Basilan-Zamboanga routes: Aleson Shipping Lines Incorporated, Montenegro Shipping Lines Incorporated, and SRN Shipping Lines Incorporated.
Cotabato City-based entrepreneur Ronald Hallid D. Torres, who chairs the Bangsamoro Business Council, welcomed the news of additional vessels from FCSL plying the sea routes, citing its positive impact on commerce and trade in Basilan.
Brigadier General Alvin V. Luzon, Commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade in Basilan, interpreted the entry of a new shipping firm as a sign of peace in the region. He pledged collaborative efforts with the police units to ensure the security of these new boats. — John Felix M. Unson