The RO-RO Connection (Part 7)
Continuing the journey from Matnog, Sorsogon brings us to Allen, Samar via sea travel. The Matnog-Allen RORO link covers a total distance of 12 nautical miles equivalent to approximately 45 minutes to an hour of travel by RORO.
Cargoes and passengers that pass through the port of Matnog going to the Visayas have the option to either disembark at either Lo-oc, Allen or Dapdap, Allen.
Approximately 2,000 buses bound for Mindanao cross the Matnog-Allen link every month. These bus services are being provided by Philtranco Bus Company and Bachelor Transit.
A total of 10 RORO ships operated by three shipping companies call at the Port of Matnog, Sta. Clara Shipping (with four RO-RO ships); and its sistercompany Penafrancia (with three RORO ships) and Maharlika Shipping (with three).
Sta. Clara & Penafrancia connect Matnog, Sorsogon to Lo-oc, Allen, Northern Samar while Maharlika connects Matnog to Dapdap, Allen.
ALLEN. Allen, Samar is located at the Northern part of the province of Samar. Two RORO ports in Allen connect to Matnog, Sorsogon. Port of Allen in Barangay Lo-oc is mostly preferred by passengers because travel time from Matnog Port to Allen (Lo-oc) takes only an hour (12 nautical miles from Matnog).
Another port, the PPA-operated Port in Barangay San Isidro, which is also used to serve passengers and cargo from Matnog to Allen, has long stopped operation due to poor performance (low passenger volume, cargo throughput and longer distance (17 nautical miles from Matnog).
Allen, Samar – Tacloban, Leyte – Liloan Southern Leyte (land travel via the San Juanico Bridge)
Upon disembarking at Allen, Samar, the journey continues via land travel taking you to Tacloban, Leyte, home to the famous San Juanico Bridge.
San Juanico Bridge crosses over the picturesque San Juanico Strait connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte, and provides a major link between northern and southern Philippines through the Pan-Philippine Highway.
The 2.16-kilometer bridge that spans the width of San Juanico Strait joins the provinces of Samar and Leyte. It was considered an engineering feat ahead of its time when it was constructed in 1973. The San Juanico Bridge is the only one of its kind in the country, thus becoming a tourist attraction.
Connecting Tacloban City on the Leyte side and Santa Rita town on the Samar side, it offers many striking views, especially the islets of the province. It is approximately io minutes from downtown Tacloban City and is accessible by passenger jeepney, bus, motorcab or private vehicle.
Liloan is located at the southernmost part of Southern Leyte and the 417 kilometer land trip from Tacloban to Liloan takes around 3-4 hours.
Liloan-Lipata RO-RO Route (Sea Travel)
It takes about 3 hours from Liloan to Lipata, Surigao via RO-RO. Two bus companies operate the Lipata- Liloan route. These include the Bachelor Express serving the Tacloban-Davao and Ormoc-Davao and vice versa, and the Philtranco plying , the Davao-Manila route. Aside from these two bus companies, trucking companies serve the Lipata-Liloan route either going all the way to Manila or end at Tacloban City from Mindanao.
In terms of passenger arrivals, during summer, port statistics are good because students travel back to the province, and then at the start of school. The year 2006 was a year of calamities for Southern Leyte.
The year 2006 was not a good year in terms of cargo throughput and passenger arrivals. The slackening of passenger and cargo throughput has been partly attributed to the presence of other travel modes/destinations, In the past, the whole of Mindanao was not served by SRNH. Today, from Zamboanga, one can link up with Dapitan, from Dapitan with Cebu , with Iloilo , with Dumaguete, and with Siquijor.
Lipata, Surigao del Norte is also known as the Gateway to Northern Mindanao from the Visayas via the Eastern Seaboard Nautical Highway.
Central Nautical Highway
1. Port of Pilar, Sorsogon
2. Port of Aroroy, Masbate
3. Port of Cawayan, Masbate
4. Port of Daangbantayan, Cebu
5. Port of Cebu, Cebu City
6. Port of Tubigon, Bohol
7. Port of Jagna, Bohol
8. Port of Mambajao, Camiguin
9. Port of Benoni, Camiguin
10. Port of Balingoan, Misamis Oriental
Central Nautical Highway
Leading the RO-RO Caravan, President Arroyo inaugurated in April 2008 the Central Nautical Highway – the last main trunk line of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway. The major RO-RO links comprising the central nautical highway include:
Pilar (Sorsogon) – Aroroy (Masbate)
Cawayan (Masbate) – Daang Bantayan (Cebu)
Mandaue (Cebu) – Tubigon (Bohol)
Jagna (Bohol) Mambajao (Camiguin)
Benoni (Camiguin) – Balingoan (Misamis Oriental)
Manila to Pilar, Sorsogon (Land Trip)
It takes 10 hours to cover the 588-km land trip from Manila to Pilar, Sorsogon. The municipality of Pilar serves as the gateway for Luzon to Mindanao via the island provinces of Masbate, Cebu, Bohol and Camiguin. The nearby municipality of Donsol (Sorsogon) is home to the whale-sharks (butanding) while the neighboring province of Albay is home to Mt. Mayon.
Pilar – Aroroy RORO Route (Sea Travel)
PILAR. At present, the existing municipal feeder port in Pilar is used for the Pilar-Aroroy RO-RO link. A RO-RO ramp was constructed in the port to make it RO-RO capable. There is, however, a plan to develop a new RO-RO port in San Antonio, Pilar. Travel time via RO-RO from Pilar to Aroroy is approximately 1 hour.
AROROY. The PPA developed a RORO terminal adjacent to the existing municipal feeder port in Aroroy. This port represents the new point of entry to the province of Masbate.
Masbate is one of the country’s developing island provinces. Connecting the province to both Luzon and Cebu would provide the province access to a larger market. Main products produced in Masbate are livestock (cattle), copra, and mineral products (like gold and manganese). With the opening of the Central Nautical Highway, Masbate’s direction of trade is no longer north bound (i.e., from Masbate to Luzon). With the completion of the RORO terminals in Cawayan and Daang Bantayan, south bound trade (to Visayas and Mindanao) is now being facilitated through RO-RO. It is expected that the Roxas-Caticlan experience of Mindoro Oriental will be replicated in Masbate. The increased economic will aid the rapid development of the province.
Aroroy to Cawayan (Land Trip)
It takes about 5-6 hours of land travel from Aroroy (North) to Cawayan (South) spanning a total distance of approximately 125 kilometers . The port of Cawayan is the jump-off point of Masbate to the Visayas.
Cawayan – Daangbantayan RORO Route (Sea Travel)
The RO-RO trip from Cawayan, Masbate to Daangbantayan, Cebu takes about 5 to 6 hours and covers a total distance of 50 nautical miles.
CAWAYAN. The PPA rehabilitated and expanded the existing wharf in Cawavan to make it a RO-RO capable port.
DAANGBANTAYAN. The Daang Bantayan RORO terminal development is a project of the provincial government. The port is located in the northern tip of the Cebu Island.
Daangbantayan to Mandaue (Land Trip)
The road network from Daangbantayan to Mandaue is good. It takes about 3 hours to traverse the 13o-kilometer stretch.
The City of Cebu is the capital of the Province of Cebu. The presence of large urban areas in its immediate and outlying vicinity has transformed the City of Cebu as the urban core and commerce center, with a pattern of activities that respect no boundaries due to the unrestricted and avoidable flow of goods and people. The prime destination of these movements is the areas and/or vicinities of Carbon, Magallanes, and Colon Streets, with the Central Business District (CBD).
The city, as a regional center, continues to radiate its influence to the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao regions. It must be noted that for the last four decades after World War II, the City of Cebu has metamorphosed as the center of education and culture; the hub of sea and air transport; and the center of trade and commerce.
The most famous of all historical landmarks in Cebu City is Magellan’s Cross that was planted in Cebu shores by Ferdinand Magellan in April 14, 1521. marking the spot where the first Catholic Christians – Rajah Humabon, Queen Juana and about 400 followers were baptized by Fr. Pedro de Valderama. Another interesting tourist landmark is the Fort San Pedro, which is considered to be the smallest and oldest tri-bastion fort in the country. Built in 1738 this served as the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. The Basilica Minore del Santo Nino is the only basilica in the Far East. The Basilica houses the Country’s oldest religious image – the Miraculous Image of the Holy Child Jesus more popularly known as “SENOR SANTO NINO”. The Sinulog Festival is a major celebration every first month of the year in honor of Senor Sto. Nino.
The island of Mactan houses the Mactan Export Processing Zone and world class resort-hotels (Mactan Shangri-la and Plantation Bay).
Mandaue – Tubigon RORO Route (Sea Travel)
MANDAUE. The main ports of Cebu are located in Mandaue City. All port in the Cebu province are under the supervision of the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA). The Mandaue (Cebu) – Tubigon (Bohol) RORO route is one of the two routes that existed prior to the establishment of the Central Nautical Highway. The RO-RO trop takes about 2 hours.
TUBIGON. The municipality of Tubigon is approximately 54 kilometers northeast of the City of Tagbilaran, the capital of Bohol. Four shipping companies serve the Mandaue-Tubigon RORO Route – Rolly Shipping Lines (1 trip per day), Kinswell Shipping Lines (2 trips per day), Island Shipping (1 trip per day), and Jadestar (2 trips per day).
The island province of Bohol is the rice granary of the Visayas. It also produces coconuts, bananas, corn, vegetables and various root crops. Its municipal waters teem with the most delicious blue crabs, aside from being a very rich fishing ground. It is also the habitat of countless rare tropical fishes. Bohol is home to the tarsiers (smallest monkey in the world) and the famous Chocolate Hills.
Tubigon to Jagna (Land Trip)
The land trip from the Port of Tubigon to the Port of Jagna takes approximately 2 hours and covers a total distance of 81 kilometers
Jagna-Balbagon RORO Route (Sea Travel)
JAGNA. The PPA upgraded the existing port and developed a RO-RO ramp for RORO operations. The RO-RO trip from Jagna (Bohol) to Balbagon (Camiguin) takes about 5 hours. Gothong Shipping provides a direct RO-RO service from Jagna to Cagayan de Oro once a week.
BALBAGON. The Port of Balbagon is located in the capital town of Mambajao, Caminguin. Aside from the R0-R0 service between Jagna and Balbagon, Asian Marine Transport provides a RO-RO service between Camiguin and Cebu once a week. Cargoes consist mainly of agricultural products such as copra, coco lumber, bananas, lanzones, among others.
Balbagon to Benoni (Land Trip) The land trip from Balbagon to Benoni is approximately 45 minutes to an hour and covers a total distance of 17 kilometers.
Benoni-Balingoan RORO Route (Sea Travel)
There are three terminal ports operating in the Province of Camiguin. The main port of entry to Camiguin is the Port of Benoni (Mahinog), and minor ports at Balbagon (Mambajao) and Guinsiliban. The Port of Benoni is part of the last leg of the Central Nautical Highway.
BENONI. The Port of Benoni is located in the southern part of Camiguin. It has 2 reinforced concrete piers and 2 RO-RO ramps. The Port of Benoni is the busiest port in Camiguin Province with three shipping companies operating on a daily basis – Corrales shipping Company (with two vessels: M/ V Hijos and M/V Dona Pepita), Philstone Shipping Corporation (with three vessels: M/V Kalinaw, M/V Yuhum and M/V Royal Princess), and Asian Marine Transport Corporation (with two vessels: Super Shuttle 1 and Super Shuttle 6).
Travel time from Benoni to Balingoan is 1 1/2 hours. The average number of ship calls is seven per day. The port experiences congestion during the Holy Week when Camiguin is visited by close to 60,00o tourists to be part of the local Lenten celebration called “Panaad.”
BALINGOAN. Located at Balingoan, Misamis Oriental, the Port of Balingoan is about 84 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro City. Balingoan Port is the nearest jump-off point for passengers/tourists and cargoes going to/coming from the Island-Province of Camiguin. It has three RORO ramps. The Port of Balingoan boasts of a new passenger terminal. There is, however, a need to upgrade and rehabilitate the existing pier. Part of the development plan is to convert the port into a domestic port once the international port will be opened in Cagayan de Oro.
There are three shipping companies with 7 vessels operating at the Balingoan Port: One serves the BalingoanGuinsiliban route (the Super Shuttle Ferry 9 operated by Asian Marine Transport Corporation), and the rest serving the Balingoan – Benoni route. Average travel time is one hour and 15 minutes.
Cargoes at Balingoan Port consist mainly of copra and coconut lumber (from Camiguin) rolled on through trucks (to and 6 wheeler types) usually bound for Cagayan de Oro.
Balingoan to Central and Southeastern Mindanao
From the Port of Balingoan, trucks and buses can go east to Surigao and Agusan, to the southeastern provinces of Mindanao (South Cotabato and Davao) through the BUDA highway – cutting through Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon, or go west to Ozamiz.
The eastern part of Mindanao is home to large agribusiness ventures – Dole Philippines and Del Monte Philippines. Davao and South Cotabato export tuna and other marine products. Bukidnon, like South Cotabato, produces corn. The province of Misamis Oriental houses the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate while Iligan City is home to some heavy industries (steel, cement).
to be continued…
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Popularity: 32%
February 5th, 2009 at 2:18 am
I would like to try land trip with my Sedan.
Can you please suggest on the best way or route to thread?
I would be waiting.
Thank you very much;
February 5th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Manila – Pilar (Sorsogon) – Aroroy (Masbate) – Cawayan (Masbate) – Daang Bantayan (Cebu) – Mandaue (Cebu) – Tubigon (Bohol)
Happy Trip!
February 27th, 2009 at 5:46 am
March 4th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Please advise the best route, ro-ro connection. Thanks a lot
March 11th, 2009 at 5:35 am
I understand your route is Laguna-Samar-Bohol.
Well, drive all the way thru to Matnog, Sorsogon. From there take a ferry to Allen, Samar. Don’t worry about the connection here. It runs 24 hours there are lots of ferries and for the most part ferries run every 1-2 hours to 2 ports in Allen–Balicuatro and Dapdap. Don’t worry they are less than a kilometer apart and rates are nearly the same.
From there drive to Bato, Leyte. There is a ferry there for Ubay, Bohol. Look for Medallion Shipping. Its ferry leaves in the mid-afternoon. If you miss it you will be in for a long wait. From Ubay proceed to your Bohol destination.
I suggest you carry a good road map.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:55 am
I’m sorry to say this but you are too far off. Multiple ferry rides cost a lot. But here goes.
Take the ferry in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro to Caticlan. Then drive to either Dumangas or Iloilo City. Both have RO-RO connections to Bacolod City. From Bacolod drive to Escalante City and take the ferry to Tabuelan, Cebu. Or alternately you can drive to San Carlos City and take the ferry to Toledo City. Your choice like the Iloilo City or Dumangas ferry will depend if you like to see their cities or you would rather take the ferries in smaller places.
From either Tabuelan or Toledo City drive to a ferry port in Cebu or Mactan. Your choice will probably depend on where in Bohol are you headed. Choices:
Cebu City to Tagbilaran City (there are plenty of choices)
Cebu City to Tubigon, Bohol (only one RO-RO, the Island RORO I, the rest are not RO-ROs)
Mandaue City to Clarin, Bohol (one RO-RO, the LCT Sto. Nino)
Naga, Cebu to Tubigon, Bohol (one RO-RO, the LCT Gwen Vida)
Punta Engano, Lapu-lapu City to Jetafe, Bohol (LCT Sta. Filomena de Bohol)
Argao, Cebu to Loon, Bohol (2 RO-ROs)
Salesmen and frequent travellers prefer the Argao-Loon route as the schedules are predictable and goes several times a day and is relatively. In the other places you might have to wait a half day .
The costliest is the Cebu-Tagbilaran route. Takes the longest travel time too. But the ship has aircon accomodations unlike the LCTs.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:59 am
It is cheaper and faster if you take the route I suggested to Ray Dearden. Just be careful in Samar. There are still rough patches of road.
March 15th, 2009 at 10:45 am
March 15th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I do not know the ETAs of the Bulan, Sorsogon-Masbate City and the Cawayan, Masbate-Bogo, Cebu RO-ROs. Supposedly it should run daily. My only fears are if the skeds are irregular (since those are missionary routes) and if the sked is not connected (i.e. if you arrive in Cawayan is the connecting RO-RO waiting?). Take note solitary RO-ROs have the tendency to change sked w/o notice (or even disappear). They “adjust” according to load conditions.
Bogo port substitutes temporarily for Daanbantayan since the port there is not yet ready for RO-ROs.
If you are coming from Luzon, the alternative is to drive to Matnog, Sorsogon, proceed all the way to Palompon, Leyte and take the ferry there to Bogo, Cebu. Alternately there is also an Isabel-Danao ferry (but there are complaints about cancellations). Though there are RO-ROs to Cebu City in other ports like Ormoc it will likely cost you more (but they will surely sail). If you miss the Palompon RO-RO, you can go to Ormoc. RO-ROs there generally leave at night.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:31 am
March 24th, 2009 at 4:27 am
There is no more Cebu-Tacloban ferry. You take the ferry, catamaran or fast craft to Ormoc and from there take a van or bus to Tacloban. The Ormoc terminal is just beside the port. There are trips to Ormoc from morning to night.
Take a look at this site: http://www.wpcebu.com/shippingguide.html
March 28th, 2009 at 5:44 am
we are from laguna,we are planning to have a road trip from here to calbayog city samar.can you pls give us some info about the road situation from quezon to matnog,bicol.and allen to calbayog city.one more thing,regarding the fare of a van and per person on a ro-ro vessel.and some formalities in port of matnog/allen.we thank you sir for the info that you can provide us.
-vic- from laguna
April 1st, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Kathy
April 16th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
April 19th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Sorry it seems I was not able to re-post a reply after my first attempt failed. I was on a trip myself. Hope you made a successful trip after all.
April 19th, 2009 at 6:53 am
I would suggest take the Davao-Lipata (Surigao City)-Liloan (S. Leyte)-Allen (N. Samar)-Matnog (Sorsogon)-Tiaong (Quezon)-Batangas City-Calapan route. This will entail 3 ferry rides:
1. Lipata-Liloan (Ferry departures:5pm, 5am, 10am, 2pm; Van:P1,500 approx; P200/person approx)
2. Allen (Ferry departures: every 1 or 2 hours on the average–there are bunching depending on bunching of buses from Leyte and Samar; plenty of trips from late morning to early evening in the two ports of Allen (Dapdap and Balicuatro; Van: P1,000 approx; P150/person).
3. Batangas-Calapan (Ferry departures: practically every hour on the average by several companies; I would guess about P1,500/van and P200/person–haven’t been there recently).
In Lipata and Allen, just bring you car’s registration (xerox copy will do) and line up in the consecutive windows for PPA, arrastre, passenger, municipal charges (you can bypass this since it is not legal anyway). Not much hassle, pretty straightforward. But in Liloan, the municipal government will try to fleece you P50 as you exit the port. This is illegal (municipalities have lost countless cases over this over the years and recently even DILG Sec. Puno said this is illegal). Your LTO registration is enough to ply any public road in the Philippines and Liloan don’t own the highway after all.
April 19th, 2009 at 7:03 am
There is no direct bus from Manila to Cawayan, Masbate. If you want a bus trip go to the Pasay satellite terminals and I suggest you look for Lobrigo Lines since this is the company that has airconditioned buses to Pilar, Sorsogon. I think the trips leave at late afternoon. Lobrigo operates motorized outriggers to Masbate City from Pilar. But if you want airconditioned accomodations you can take the Montenegro Shipping Lines fast crafts from Pilar to Masbate City. These fast crafts and motorized outriggers leave as soon as the buses from Manila arrive.
From Masbate City port you will have to take a tricycle (motorcycle with sidecar) to Masbate bus/jeepney terminal, a distance of 2kms. There will be rides available once the boats arrive. Now I do not know what time the ferry leaves for Daanbantayan. I fear its sked might not be connected to the arrival of the Masbate bus/jeep. If that happens you will be in for a long, even an overnight wait if you are not lucky.
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 am
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
If there is a shipping company that has a Cebu-Matnog route then you can send it w/o anybody accompanying it. Unfortunately there is none serving that route. Your other option is to use a forwarder but it will cost you more. So maybe, if you can, you will need to send someone to Cebu to pick up the unit and drive it to Bicol (maybe via the Cebu-Bogo-Palompon-Tacloban-Allen-Matnog route or the Cebu-Bogo-Cawayan-Masbate City-Bulan route). If purchased 1-2 weeks in advance the Legazpi-Cebu plane fare is relatively cheap.
April 26th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Kathy
April 26th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
April 27th, 2009 at 1:53 am
My suggestion remains the same. Unless you want to take the Davao-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan-Tubod-Ozamis-Dapitan-Dumaguete-Bacolod-Dumangas/Iloilo-Malay/Caticlan-Roxas-Calapan route. That will be 4 ferry rides and the land distance is probably no shorter.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:59 am
The simplest is still the route via Samar and Leyte. That means (if you are taking a car) driving first to Matnog (Sorsogon), taking a ferry to Allen (N. Samar), then driving to Liloan (S. Leyte), taking the ferry to Lipata (Surigao) and then a drive straight to Davao via Butuan.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
am planning to take the manila to davao road trip. My questions are:
-i will be driving leisurely and will only be diving daytime. can you suggest good stopover bed and breakfast inns along the route?
–at the ferry points what ae the schedules? what documentary requirements do i need to bring for my car? how much are the ferry rates for an suv?
–thanks
April 28th, 2009 at 12:28 am
By Air to PILAR SORSOGON:
Manila to Legaspi
-Tricycle to Bus Terminal or Van to Pilar. (What terminal?)
By Bus to PILAR SORSOGON:
-Bus to Pilar Sorsogon Port. (What’s the name of the Port?)
By Ferry/Boat to AROROY PORT:
-Pilar Port to Aroroy Port. (What ship?)
By Tricycle to PANINAAN:
-Is the ‘habal-habal’ terminal near the Aroroy port?
Please help.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
The easiest would be to take a bus from Pasay to Pilar. The bus I would recommend is Lobrigo as they also own the motor boat so the connection is seamless (you can purchase the boat ticket even in Manila combined with your bus fare). Lobrigo uses one of the Pasay terminals used by the so-called colorum buses (they really are not).
Only motor boats ply the Aroroy route. In general, once the buses arrive in Pilar, they sail.
I don’t know if there is a habal-habal to Pinanaan (are you sure it is Paninaan?). Habal-habals are not numerous in Luzon. You have to ask around once you get there. I just noticed that Pinanaan is on the road to Baleno, some 4 kms east of Aroroy.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
It is a long drive and try reaching Naga, at least, on your first day (it is 380kms). Lots of places to stay there that will suit everyone’s budget and most are in the city proper or in Magsaysay Ave. Or try Moraville in the next town of Pili. Or yet betterstay at the CWC (Camarines Sur Watersports Complex) at the Provincial Capitol Complex.
Reaching Naga or further has a bearing on your 2nd day. The next logical stop based on driving hours is Calbayog. But I had difficulty securing a decent stay there. There is only one new inn (sorry I forgot the name) and it is always full. The rest are ‘titiyagaan’ and difficult to find in the night. If it is possible for you to reach Catbalogan the choices are better but it is 70kms more over a road under construction (about 2 hrs more of driving).
Before reaching Samar you have to take the ferry in Matnog to Allen. Ferries here are numerous and run 24 hrs and one usually departs every hour or two and sometimes near-simultaneously. Rate is about P1000/SUV.
Liloan port is only some 7hrs ahead of Catbalogan (or 9hrs ahead of Calbayog) driving leisurely and it is better if you can cross to Surigao City as there is no decent stay there. But note that ferry trips there is only 4x/day (11pm, 8am, 5pm, 7pm). Take notice that it is rather common during summer not to be accommodated in the next ferry trip in Liloan as it can be full early. Try reaching that 5pm or 7pm ferry early but I recommend the latter as it is faster and arrival time is almost the same and as it is a newer RORO (Super Shuttle Ferry). Rate for SUV is about P1,500+. In Surigao there are enough choices in lodging (but you have to drive back to the city) and the best is probably Gateway Hotel near the Lipata junction.
Davao City, some 400kms ahead of Surigao, can be driven in one go as the roads are good and not much overtaking is required.
All you need in transacting at the PPA windows are the xerox copy of your car’s registration (the one you usually have in your glove compartment). But bring along the original in case of questions.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:18 am
I assume you will be coming from Manila. The usual route is to drive to Matnog, Sorsogon and take a RO-RO to Allen, N. Samar. From there drive on to Bato, Leyte via Tacloban and S. Juanico bridge. From Bato there are 2 RO-ROs to Ubay, Bohol.
May 26th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Many thanks for the information you left me regarding the trip to Pinanaan (yes you are right) Aroroy Masbate. I will look up Lobrigo Bus Line immediately. I can’t, however find them listed in the net. Would you be able to supply me their contact info and address?
Thanks again.
cash
May 27th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
May 28th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Sorry, I don’t have their contact numbers either. Their terminal in Pasay is near Jollibee-Philtranco and they also have buses at the Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao.
May 29th, 2009 at 4:15 am
First, drive your car to Matnog, Sorsogon (this is about a 12-hour drive) and take a RO-RO to Allen, Northern Samar (RO-ROs here run around the clock). From Allen drive to Tacloban City (about a 6-hour drive) and then proceed to Kananga, Leyte (about a 1.5-hour drive from Tacloban). The road to Palompon via Matag-ob emanates from there (<1-hour drive). There is a daily RO-RO from Palompon to Bogo, Cebu (you are right, it uses the Polambato port).
May 29th, 2009 at 4:27 am
The alternate route is to drive your car to Bulan, Sorsogon, a town near Matnog. I have info that there started a regular RO-RO service there to Masbate City starting last May 1. From there you will have to drive to Cawayan, Masbate. Supposedly there will be a RO-RO service there to Bogo, Cebu. Just take note that this is a missionary route where there can be uncertainties. If you are the adventurous type and travelling without your family this route can be for you. I will be grateful for feedback should you take this route. If you do please take pictures if you have a camera and share it with us in the Flickr group ‘Philippine Ship Spotters Society’.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
June 11th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Seems you have to fly back to Manila first. The land/sea alternative is to take a ferry from Camiguin to Jagna and take a Manila bus from there or Ubay, Bohol and get off a Lucena for a ferry to Marinduque. This will take you more than two days. Probably too complicated to appeal to you.
I don’t know if there is still a ferry from Marinduque to Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. That is the direct route. There might be motor bancas in that route but remember the southwest monsoon (habagat) is blowing already so waves might be fairly high. Leave that kind of trip to the veterans.
From Marinduque you can track back to Lucena and take a bus to Batangas (Supreme bus) and then take a ferry to Calapan.
July 5th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
July 9th, 2009 at 2:13 am
You will have to proceed to Palompon, Leyte first from Tacloban City and take the 1pm ferry to Bogo, Cebu. Proceed to Cebu City port and there are ferries to Tagbilaran or Tubigon round-the-clock. If you will take the ferry to Tubigon, an alternate entry port, you will have to proceed to Tagbilaran from there.
There is no ferry from Tagbilaran to Butuan (or Nasipit, its port of entry), as far as I know. But there is a ferry from Tagbilaran to Cagayan de Oro every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7pm and from there you can just proceed to Butuan.
August 24th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
August 24th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
There is no Matnog-Palompon ferry. Now if you try the Manila-Bulan-Masbate City-Cawayan-Bogo-Palompon route it will cost you a lot in ferry fare fare, hotel, food and time as that will entail 3 ferry rides and on some routes the ferry only runs once a day. It will set you back by at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours max. But if touring is your quest then maybe….Otherwise you will have to bear some of the bad stretches in Samar. Anyway, about half of that stretch is already overlaid with good asphalt and the rest are in various state of repair and disrepair.
Before Matnog you can check some of the hotels in either Sorsogon City or Legazpi City/Daraga, Albay. There is no good hotel in Matnog. The next place that there is a choice of good hotels is in Tacloban. There is no decent hotel in Liloan (better go to Sogod) and the next stop that there is a choice of hotels is already in Surigao and Butuan. Of course, if beauty is on the eye of the beholder the judgment if a hotel is decent, good or not will depend on the guest. Good luck!
August 25th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
August 25th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Bitukang Manok is the boundary between Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur and it lies within the Bicol National Park. But you will only pass it if you will go via Camarines Norte. The road there is better but the route and travel time is longer. And the view in Bitukang Manok is not really breathtaking.
You might be looking for the Tatlong Eme which has a breathtaking view but is often confused for Bitukang Manok. It lies after the town of Pagbilao, Quezon. Reaching the straights of Barangay Malicboy (about 4kms after the town proper) look for the road fork ahead. The road on the right leads to Tatlong Eme. It is the old mountain road but still open and passable. The road on the left is the new diversion road bypassing Tatlong Eme. Travel through 3M is faster but take not that there it is the climbing vehicle who have the right of way and occupy the left lane when giving way to a bus or truck on the hairpin turns.
Aside from the options above you generally follow the Maharlika road to Bicol. Just bring along a good road map and always look out for the blue directional signs along the highway.
September 18th, 2009 at 8:03 am
What is the best way for my wife and I (as tourists, with no car) to go from Legaspi (or Pilar) to Bocolad. For example, is there a ferry from Pilar to Roxas to get us over to Panay Island…
thx, JIM
September 18th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
May I note, to avoid confusion that the main route is not Pilar-Aroroy but Pilar-Masbate City. Those that go to Aroroy are those specific for that place and maybe Baleno. The main entry port of Masbate province is Masbate City and it is nearer to Cawayan than Aroroy.
The distance to Pilar is just some 510 kilometers if one takes the Quirino-Andaya Highway but you must still be one hell of a driver to do that in 10 hours at day.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 am
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:35 am
First, drive all the way to Surigao City and go to Lipata port (the junction is 7 kms before the city proper just after the bus terminal). It is on the left of the road. From there take a ferry to Liloan. There are ferries at 5am, 6am, 2pm, 5pm. I am not sure if there is a 10am ferry.
From Liloan drive to straight to Mahaplag and before that town look for the junction going to Baybay, Leyte. From Baybay drive north to Ormoc and Kananga and look for the Lemon junction on the left that leads to Naval, Biliran. In Naval there is a 9am ferry to Cataingan, Masbate. From Cataingan it is just 72 kilometers to Masbate City.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
November 18th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
It depends on the size of the car. A compact car will cost between P1,000-1,500 all in.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:50 am
we are planning a vacation in bohol by december 19 by land. can you provide me route from manila-bohol via roro? with distance, time of travel, roro rates, port fees and roro schedules for me to plan what time should we depart and take a roro once in the port.
thank you very much.
rod
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
December 5th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
December 8th, 2009 at 6:50 am
December 11th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Thanks
January 7th, 2010 at 2:47 am
I would like to travel from Bohol to Laoang, Samar. I have no car and will be taking buses and ferries. Any suggestions on routes?
Thanks!!
PS I then will need to get to either Manila airport or Clark airport. (have not bought ticket yet – do not want to leave!!) Need to be flying out at the end of January.
January 7th, 2010 at 4:06 am
Thanks again,
Oliver
January 10th, 2010 at 9:50 am
January 13th, 2010 at 7:33 am
If from Palompon, take the Super Shuttle Ferry [ (032) 232-3150, (032) 231-0639, (032) 234-4121, (032) 345-5581] to Bogo, Cebu. Please check if the new sked leaves at 7:30pm or 7:30am. From Bogo drive to Tabuelan, Cebu (if the ferry is a night ferry you might have to spend the night in Bogo). From Tabuelan there are ferries (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33539656@N06/4155402010/) to Escalante City. From Escalante drive to Bacolod City and take the ferry to Dumangas (3 operators, whole day) and drive to Roxas City.
If from Ormoc, take a ferry to Cebu City (this will cost more than the Palompon-Bogo ferry). They generally leave at night and arrive Cebu City at dawn. From Cebu city drive to Toledo City and take the ferry to San Carlos City (many operators, almost 24 hrs operations). From San Carlos City drive to Bacolod City (you have the option of taking the Canlaon City route). And from Bacolod take the ferry to Dumangas and drive to Roxas City.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:42 am
I hope this is not late yet. You have to take a ride to Ubay, Bohol and ride a ferry or motor banca to Bato, Leyte or Maasin, Leyte. From there ask the Manila buses for a ride to Allen, N. Samar (they will usually accommodate you). Buses are available from 1:30am in Maasin and most will pass Bato. Last Manila bus from Maasin and Bato is after breakfast. If you miss this you have to take the bus or van to Tacloban and from Tacloban you could take a van to Catarman and from there take a ride to Laoang.
If the Manila bus accomodates you and you get off at Allen first ask if there are still buses to Rawis (they arrive from dawn to early morning).
There is a plane to Manila from Calbayog. Or take the Manila bus from Rawis or Laoang. If you backtrack to Cebu from Laoang this will be a farther route.
Just be careful of the connecting rides in Bohol-Leyte-Samar because the tris there are not 24 hours.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:43 am
January 21st, 2010 at 9:19 am
January 24th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
09291830425 / (02)480-6080, u can contact me on this #s po.. salamat
January 28th, 2010 at 9:40 am
You can try the number of Philharbor, owners of Maharlika ferries in Matnog and Liloan: (02) 7750441, 7750480. For Liloan you can also try Super Shuttle Ferry: (032) 2323150, 2310639, 2344121, 3455581.
To Gladys:
Best way from CDO to Tacloban is via the Lipata port in Surigao to Liloan port in Southern Leyte and then drive to Tacloban. There are 5 trips a day (5am, 7am, 10am, 2pm and 5pm) . A 10w truck will cost over P5,000.
From CDO to Bohol Trans-Asia has a 3x a week sked to Tagbilaran. Cebu Ferries has a once a week trip to Jagna. Just check their websites. Another possibility is via Camiguin. Drive to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental and there are many ferries there to Camiguin (2 ports) several times a day. From there drive to Mambajao. There is a Super Shuttle Ferry that leaves daily for Jagna at 8am. Their numbers are (032) 2323150, 2310639, 2344121, 3455581.
-Mike-
January 28th, 2010 at 9:46 am
The RORO service for Bogo-Palompon is provided by Super Shuttle Ferry.Suppossedly it leaves 12nn but check (232-3150, 231-0639). No problem in the Allen-Matnog sector as ferry service there as the ferries run 24 hours and are plenty. There are two ports there, the Dapdap and Balicuatro ports with the latter having more ships.
Travel time is over 30 hours excluding rest time. Expenses about P3,000 for ferry, about P4,500 for gas and food and hotel (in case).
Palompon to Allen is about 350 kilometers. Matnog to Manila is about 590 kilometers via Quirino/Andaya highway.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:06 am
Can anyone help how to go to cagayan de oro from cebu with our isuzu pick – up ? Do you have any idea about the cost ? where’s the best and shorter way to CDO ? thanks you sooooo much for your help.. hope to hear from you soon !
joy
cebu
February 16th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Hi! You can load it aboard the Cebu-CDO ferries like Cebu Ferries. You can look it up in the directory or get a copy of The Freeman and call them. Compare rates. You have to be very specific about the model of your vehicle and if it is loaded or not.
from Mike
February 20th, 2010 at 7:38 am
Thanks mike – i forget to say that we gonna bring our pick – up Nissan Frontier from cebu to cdo , not loaded – just 2 of us – nothing at the back ! we really don’t have any idea for the prices , but as you have said im gonna get a freeman and call them . Thanks anyway !
February 21st, 2010 at 7:57 am
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:05 pm
I’m not good in computers so I have problem with links. But i suggest you buy a map. The most basic is available from National Book Store for P15. It is adequate in showing what towns are coming up or if you are already lost. Anyway, there are more-or-less enough signs in the highway. On most parts you would just have to follow where the buses are rolling.
Your first target is the southernmost tip of Sorsogon, the town of Matnog, the jump-off point to Samar. Transit time of buses is 14 hours average. Your running time will depend on what speed you are comfortable, how many stops you make and how much you want to view the scenery, take pictures, absorb the place. If you can’t make Matnog on your first day a reasonable target will be Naga. Many hotels in the city proper to suit every budget. Sampaguita is the benchmark value hotel. Or better yet proceed to the next town of Pili and look for the provincial capitol and the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex. It has accommodations, food and fun (waterboarding).
On your next leg you can target Tacloban. I suggest that city rather than Catbalogan (only 1.5 hours distance, good roads) because it is more cosmopolitan and there are many choices and not only in accommodation. Not too familiar with hotels there just around and survey first if room and rates is okay. No problem canvassing if you have a car. This second leg will entail a ferry ride from Matnog to Allen. Rolling cargo rate should be about P1,500. You must have the papers of your car incl xerox copy.
3rd week of April is already peak travel time. A wait for a ferry ride is possible. Loading a car means more hassle. There is a series of windows in the port where you have to present car papers and pay for the vehicle and passengers. The driver does not pay ferry fare. Fixers there are eager. Once fully paid and documented you queue the vehicle. If the loading is light (this will depend if you are not withe the peak arrival of the buses and trucks) you go almost direct to the ferry. Beware of a row of tables where one will think it’s part of the queue but actually they sell travel insurance as if it’s part of the requirement (rackets happen everywhere). And the municipal government will try to fleece “garbage fee” from you even though the Supreme Court, the DILG and the PPA has said many times over that this is illegal and has no basis in law. At the opposite port, Allen, no such things like this because maybe it is a private port (2 separate ports actually–Balicuatro and Dapdap and where you will be unloaded will depend on your ferry). You need not pay anything there.
For continuity i will say that upon reaching the gates of the next port, Liloan, the will try to fleece you of a P50 “municipal road tax” (on a national highway)and they will try to call a policeman to bully you. Don’t pay (I don’t) and just drive through. They won’t shoot you anyway (my classic reply is the fees i paid LTO is already enough to ply any public road except the tollways; btw, the port road is owned by the PPA and they have charges for that). The SC and DILG has said so many times over that this exaction is illegal and has no basis and law (but most motorists pay out of ignorance or fear).
From Tacloban you drive to this Liloan port. Try reaching this port by 10am if you sleep in Tacloban (2.5-3 hours distance) to be in time for the 11am ferry. Next ferry is 5pm. Ferries here only run about 5 trips a day (unlike in Matnog where a ferry leaves every hour on the average). That 11am ferry is slow. You will reach Lipata about 2:30pm. If you are not so far down Surigao del Sur (as in Bislig) you might not need to spend the next night in a hotel.
Good luck!
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Rates for Adventure in Liloan will be between P2,000-2,500 all in. The distance is greater. Driver is free. Passenger fare about P160. In Matnog passenger fare is about P110.
Use bottled water. After Luzon, decent places where one can eat or buy anything dramatically drops off.
Take note of the driving fatigue. I guess you are not a long-distance driver.
And enjoy. Take pics. And wish you would share some ship pics with us at the Flickr group Philippine Ship Spotters Society http://www.flickr.com/groups/psss/). Our group have pics of Matnog and Liloan ferries. Just use the search box.
February 28th, 2010 at 4:26 am
I Is there any alternate direct route like Dumaguete – Ormoc?
March 9th, 2010 at 9:54 am
March 17th, 2010 at 3:34 am
could you pls help, bcoz we are planning to take summer vacation thru landtrip, using my toyota hi-lux surf, any idea what is the nearest transit point between leyte to bohol. much appreciate your prompt reply to my email add below. thank you
mac_dumaran@yahoo.com.ph
March 17th, 2010 at 9:26 am
I trust you already know the way to Talibon. I don’t have much knowledge about Talibon but I know there is a Talibon Pension House. From Talibon you will have to drive to Jagna to take the Super Shuttle Ferry to Mambajao, Camiguin. It leaves at 1pm and takes 4-5 hours which means you will probably have to stay for the night in Mambajao. I think the most prominent place to stay there is the Paras Beach Resort. If in need of additional info you can ask from co-passengers and the crew of the ship. Most of the time their info is better and more current than that available from the Net.
There are two port for the island of Mindanao — Benoni and Guinsiliban, both on the southern end of Camiguin. Many ships there go to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental. From there it is just an hour’s drive to Cagayan de Oro.
From Mike
March 17th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Escalante is a good take-off point from Negros. you land in Tabuelan and Bogo the Cebu take-off point is already near and you land in Palompon and you go via Leyte and Samar and exit in Allen.
But from Bogo there are already a ferry services to both Cawayan and Cataingan in Masbate. Your Masbate exit point is Masbate City and you can go to Pilar, Sorsogon. Or Bulan, Sorsogon if your destination is the rest of Sorsogon. This is a shorter route.
A Dumaguete route is much longer and there is no direct RORO to Ormoc and you will backtrack to Cebu City via Bato, Samboan. There is a LCT from Argao to Loon, Bohol and then a connecting ferries in Ubay, one for Bato and one for Maasin but this is a much longer loop than taking the Masbate route.
On the return trip the Batangas-Calapan-Roxas-Caticlan-Dumangas-Bacolod route is the norm. But try checking if there is already a direct Batangas-Dumaguit route (currently the ferry assigned here was assigned to Batangas-Calapan).
All the luck!
From Mike
March 18th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Thank you very much for being so helpful , helps us a lot , more power to you and good luck. god bless ! thanks again !
March 19th, 2010 at 3:22 am
I left a message in January about going from Bohol to Laoang, Samar. However, due to time constrants I was unable to make the journey. This time I am trying the trip in reverse.
I have no car and will be taking buses and ferries. This time I am traveling with my 82 yo mother. I might end up just flying to Manila then back to Cebu or Bohol. Any suggestions on routes?
Thanks!!
March 20th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
March 23rd, 2010 at 9:42 am
If your mother is frail then by all means take the plane. It seems there are flights now in Catarman?
But if you will take the bus and ferry my suggestion is you take the Catarman-Tacloban vans and reserve good seats. Or go to Allen and take the buses from Manila there as they are faster and more comfortable. There are buses there to Bohol or at least take a bus that is Baybay-Maasin and get off at Bato. The Manila buses pass by Allen dawn to early morning. The Bato ferry is late afternoon (there you will still find the Bohol buses that passed Allen so there is really no need that your bus from Allen is a Bohol bus). A bus from Bato to Bohol is much better than taking a separate ferry ride and getting stuck up in Ubay port. Good if your Bohol destination is on the bus’ route.
Another alternative is to take the Cebu ferry in Calbayog or Catbalogan and then take another ferry in Cebu going to Bohol. But i don’t know your place in Bohol and i hope it is near the town that have a port like Talibon, Jetafe and Tagbilaran. Vans are usually waiting in the ports.
Good luck.
-Mike-
March 23rd, 2010 at 9:43 am
Welcome. I just want travelers to be safe and enjoying their trip.
-Mike-
March 23rd, 2010 at 9:43 am
The Lite Ferry website says P1,350. Info a little dated but i don’t think it will change much. That is the usual rate for that kind of vehicle that distance. That rate does not cover other fees that the PPA and arrastre will charge and this could be another P200-P300 more and usually it is only the driver that is free so your passengers will still have to pay fares which is about P200 per head.
Good luck!
-Mike-
March 28th, 2010 at 5:20 am
March 29th, 2010 at 8:51 am
There are many ROROs from Balingoan, Misamis Oriental going to Camiguin and among them is Super Shuttle Ferry. There are 2 ports of entry to Camiguin: Benoni and Guinsiliban. From there you would have to drive to Mambajao, the capital. It is there where a Super Shuttle Ferry to Jagna, Bohol emanates. The Benoni ferries are preferred by those going to Mambajao. First trip is 5:30am and you would arrive there about 7am and then drive fast to reach the 8am in Mambajao.
It’s already summer vacation and there are many travelers. Be early (the very least is one hour early) as vehicles can queue and you would still have to transact your clearances in the port.
Good luck!
from Mike
April 18th, 2010 at 10:33 am
April 18th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 10:00 am
The number of hours will depend on how many drivers are there, how good and fast they are and their familiarity with the route (or if you will opt for sightseeing and soaking local ambience) and if you will run the car 24 hours.
Laguna to Matnog should be 10-12 hours normal (Manila-Matnog is 590kms approx.) and there might be some waiting time in the port as this is peak season. Matnog-Allen ferry trip is about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Allen to Bato is some 420 kms and Maasin some 30 kms more. That could be another 10 hours. Take note i factor in meal stops.
Medallion trips from Bato to Ubay leave at 6pm and 9am. But don’t rely on photo finish as this is peak season.
It seems the Maasin-Ubay SuperShuttle Ferry leaves later than the Bato Medallion. About 8 o 9pm.
Ferry charges for your car should be about P1,500 approx.
Good luck.
-from Mike-
April 20th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I’m sorry I don’t know either. Maybe you can call Super Shuttle Ferry at (032) 232-3150, (032) 231-0639, (032) 234-4121, (032) 345-5581.
-from Mike-
April 21st, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I don’t know the fares of both routes and also their schedules. Thanks for the help in Advance!
April 22nd, 2010 at 9:28 am
The Surigao-Maasin ferry will cost significantly higher because of the greater distance and you are not significantly nearer to P. Burgos taking that route. Lipata-Liloan has also more trips. Rolling cargo rate for a Multicab on the Lipata-Liloan route will probably not reach P1,500. I am not very sure of the skeds but one leaves at about 5:30am and the next trip is about 7:30am. There is also a 5:30 pm trip.What i’m not sure are the midday trips but before there is a 2:30pm trip (if Millenium Uno is sailing). I guess the Ocean King I might be occupying the noon slot and since this is summer there could also be a 10:30am ferry. If you miss all this then take the Surigao-Maasin ferry that leaves at 7pm (but this is only on a Thursday night now).
Good luck.
-from Mike-
April 27th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
I’m driving a KIA Carnival. I’m planning to have a family vacation this summer.
Any information that anyone could give would be much appreciated.
Thank you
May 1st, 2010 at 6:45 am
Charges depend on distance. Even within same route competitors even have different rates. A LCT usually costs less than a RORO.
I assume you are from Cebu. I suggest you buy a copy of The Freeman and see the shipping section and try calling the companies so you can compare. Another source of shipping company numbers is http://www.cebuboattrips.com.
You know, lean season rates can sometimes be lower and summer is peak season. And sites don’t usually post RORO charges coz it can change.
Mike
May 4th, 2010 at 12:02 am
May 8th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Yes, you have to take the Lipata-Liloan ferry. Schedules there are of yesterday were:
6:30am — Super Shuttle Ferry 18
12nn — Maharlika
1-2pm — Ocean King I (this will delay departure if Maharlika delays departure)
6:30pm — Maharlika (a Maharlika will definitely be assigned here as this sked carries many buses)
1am — Maharlika
3am — Millenium Uno (on drydock)
Maharlika and Millenium ferries have unreliable engines so when it conks out a certain sked is cancelled. In summer this means piling up of vehicles and passengers. Unless Maharlika gets another ferry or one of their ferries make a double trip. But that 6:30pm trip is a near-dead certainty as many buses ride on that trip.
Travellers and shippers here have not much choice. One usually takes the first ferry leaving unless one wants to wait a long time in a place with nowhere to go. Actually being left out on a trip is frustrating so give allowance and don’t check in photo finish style esp in summer.
Rates will depend on what vehicle you will bring across. A car will not cost you P2,000 all-in. A van will breach P2,000.
Good luck.
-from mike-
May 8th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Are the roads fixed already? Last time I travelled through here December 2007, the roads were horrendous!!
Please anyone advise us of the current road conditions
Thank!
May 9th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Thank you.
May 13th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I haven’t been there this year but last year they were working on it and that is the priority section. I think it might be finished now. Hope it is a good as the Catbalogan-Basey section which is good for cruising at over 100kph.
-from mike-
May 13th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I have not tried that but i used to pass thru there before and that is being monitored in our group, the Philippine Ship Spotters Society. It is a viable route. Jump-off point is Pilar coz it is shorter than Bulan. Pilar-Masbate Montenegro Lines RORO depature skeds are 8am, 10am, 4pm, 6pm, 12mn and 2am. Notice there is clustering so if you miss one….Buses usually take 13 hours from Manila but i don’t know your comfortable driving speed, familiarity with the route, presence of alternate driver and if you plan sightseeing along the way.
The Cawayan-Bogo Montenegro ferry leaves at 10am. The Super Shuttle Ferry ship on that route leaves at 12nn. Meanwhile, the Cataingan-Bogo Montenegro ferry leaves at 12nn. So that means the 8am, 12nn, 4pm and 6pm does not connect well to the ferry to Cebu. You have to target the 12mn or 2am Pilar-Masbate ferry. That’s just nice so you can sightsee the Luzon way. Travel time to Cawayan or Cataingan from Masbate is about 2 hours.
Seems if you are physically resilient there is no need for an overnight stay somewhere. You might have to take naps in Pilar port, on the Pilar-Masbate ship and on Cataingan or Cawayan port and on the ferry to Cebu. Expected total travel time to Cebu is about 24 hours. Just be careful with tummy and Lomotil delays everything. But if you are really fagged out then heed caution and take a rest somewhere.
Good luck!
Mike
May 16th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
May 17th, 2010 at 10:48 am
The Escalante-Tabuelan ROROs of E.B. Aznar leave at 1am, 9am and 11am according to the http://www.cebuboattrips.com of Mr. Paul Petrea. Mr. Masahiro Homma’s site says 9am, 11:30am and 7pm as the photo there shows erasures and that is valid as of Nov. 2009. The same site of Mr. Homma shows the departures of Montenegro Lines’ ferries from Escalante are 6am, 12nn and 5pm and valid as of Nov. 2009. Tristar Megalink has 2 or 3 LCTS also serving that route but i don’t have the skeds. I might post further data once i see my recent newspaper clippings but rest assured competition in that route is a dogfight from what we know in our group (Philippine Ship Spotters Society) and i think departures are continuous from early morning to early evening with maybe a gap of only 1 or 2 hours between departures.
May 19th, 2010 at 2:35 am
May 20th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
There are no ferry service right now to Puerto Princesa. So your best bet is cargo service and 2GO is one of the best in business. I don’t know if Negros Navigation has a Puerto Princesa service. Maybe you can also call Moreta Shipping. Just canvass as their schedules can vary. Good luck!
May 27th, 2010 at 12:29 am
May 27th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Maharlika has the following departuress (Lipata-Liloan) if all their ferries are running: 5:00am, 11am and 5:30pm.
Super Shuttle Ferry has the following sked: 6:30am.
Ocean King has the following sked: 1pm
When i passed thru Lipata early this month Millenium is not running. But if they do they hold the 2:30pm slot.
Hopefully our group, the Philippine Ship Spotters Society will have our website running this year and maybe one feature we will have is a list of ferry skeds. Our main problem regarding this is the volatility of the skeds and we still lack correspondents in many routes. Hope we can resolve that.
Good luck!
June 4th, 2010 at 12:53 am
June 4th, 2010 at 1:17 am
June 4th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Drive first to Matnog, Sorsogon and take the ferry there to Allen, Northern Samar. From Allen drive to Liloan, Southern Leyte and take the ferry there for Lipata, Surigao City. From Lipata drive to Cagayan de Oro.
June 7th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
June 8th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
June 10th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
God Bless..
June 30th, 2010 at 11:44 am
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:41 pm
I don’t exactly what’s on your mind but Davao shippers either load via Cagayan de Oro if it is perishable or use the shipping companies that offer Davao-Cebu services. Shippers don’t usually load trucks to Cebu as the rate is high coz of the distance.
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:42 pm
A rather long drive, in case. Your first option is just to load your car from Davao to Iloilo but that will be much more expensive.
If you will drive, go first to Pulauan port in Dapitan. Safe route is via Cagayan de Oro, then past Iligan to Mukas port in Tubod, Lanao del Norte then load your car via the Daima ferry for a short hop across Panguil Bay to Ozamis City and thence drive to Pulauan.
Alternate land route to Pulauan is:
1. via the Narciso Ramos Highway thru Parang, Maguindanao to either Iligan City via Marawi and thence to Mukas;
2. via Parang and Narciso Ramos Highway thru Sultan Naga Dimaporo and Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and backtract to Mukas or drive thru Monte Alegre (no need to take Daima ferry here);
3. via Parang and Narciso Ramos Highway thru Tukuran and Aurora.
But if you don’t have a backer for this Narciso Ramos routes then better take the CDO route. Probably least expensive is via #2.
From Pulauan take the ferry to Dumaguete and from Dumaguete drive to Bacolod. The shortest and most direct route is via Mabinay.
From Bacolod take the ferry. The RORO route goes thru Dumangas and just drive to Iloilo City.
Just take note the Daima ferry in Mukas does not run 24 hours as it has about a 6-hour gap from near midnight. And Mukas is already nearly 500kms from Davao (about 9 hours serious driving that does not include meal stop). So an early morning drive from Davao should carry you to as far as Ozamis where there are plenty of creature comforts.
Should you wish to press on there is a 5am and 6am ferry in Pulauan. If you decide to sleep in Ozamis you could try taking the 10:30am ferry (be careful not to miss this as the next ferries are the night ferries; Ozamis to Dapitan is about 100kms).
If via land and RORO i estimate your travel cost to be about P7,500 incl fuel and ferry but not including food and hotel.
Good luck!
July 6th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
July 7th, 2010 at 12:05 am
The land distance is some 1,300kms. Your fuel cost could be some 3,500. Allot P4,500 for all the fees for two RORO crossings between Matnog and Allen and Liloan and Lipata (don’t pay the illegal “municipal fee” in Liloan). Then allot P400 per passenger for the two ferry rides (coz only the driver is free when you load the vehicle in the RORO). You might need one or two hotel stays along the way depending on your speed, strength and stop-overs. Cheapest aircon single room along the way is P600 and about P800 up for double occupancy. Food expense will depend on you but your travel time is between two to three days. Don’t take the western nautical highway that runs thru Mindoro, Panay, Negros. It will cost you more. Unless that is you preference but it will be a different estimate. Good luck.
July 7th, 2010 at 12:34 am
I’m very sorry i did not notice your queries.
July 10th, 2010 at 5:59 am
July 10th, 2010 at 6:03 am
please response po ASAP. i wm planning to visit masbate tomorrow..
desperate. urgent. tnx a lot po. more power. =)
July 20th, 2010 at 3:29 am
July 25th, 2010 at 3:56 am
Try Negros Navigation cargo. Search their website using Google. Maybe a 20-foot container van will be enough. Just pack up all the spaces. To do this measure your things beforehand and plan on paper the loading. The internal dimensions of the container van is 19’6″ x 9’6″ x 9’6″.
Just drive your car via SRNH thru Manila-Batangas-Calapan-Roxas, Or. Mindoro, Caticlan-Dumangas-Bacolod-Cadiz. Load in the car the initial things you will need in Cadiz.
Good luck!
August 8th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
thank you.
August 11th, 2010 at 6:28 am
I am from Bacolod and I am planning to go to Surigao. Can I get there by ferry?
Can you please tell me how…
please..
thanks..
August 17th, 2010 at 9:09 am
looking forward for your emmediate answer…its really needed for us to know the schedules….
thanx and more power!
August 17th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Ferries from Matnog run 24 hours and there are several providers so it doesn’t matter what time you come as there will always be ferries waiting. In Liloan, the ferries leave at 5pm, 7pm, 11pm, 6am and 11am. That is if none of them are drydocked or are suffering from engine troubles (the problem of Maharlika ferries).
August 19th, 2010 at 12:35 am
thank you once again
god bless
August 19th, 2010 at 9:37 am
That will be a tiring and a much more expensive route. But if you insist…
Drive to Pilar, Masbate then take the Montenegro ferry to Masbate City (it runs 24hrs). Then drive to either Cataingan or Cawayan and take the ferry to Bogo, Cebu (be there on or before 10am; it’s both single trips). From Bogo drive to Argao, Cebu and take the LCT to Looc, Bohol. From Looc drive to Jagna, Bohol and take the ferry to Mambajao, Camiguin (leaves at noon). From Mambajao drive to Benoni in Mahinog and take the ferry to Balingoan (if you drive fast you will probably still catch the last ferry). From Balingoan drive to Puerto, Cagayan de Oro turn left and take the Buda road to Davao City. You might be bone-tired by then and i wonder if 4 days will be enough for this route even if you have two drivers.
Good luck.
August 19th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
the email was sent to my SPAM folder, don’t know why.. but here it is..
thanks mike for all of your help!!!
To Ella:
You have 4 possible choices:
1) Take the Bacolod-Iligan SuperFerry and take a bus to Cagayan de Oro, then Butuan and Surigao. Land distance is about 410 kilometers and about 8 hours excluding connecting time.
2) Cross to Iloilo and take the ferry to Cagayan de Oro and then a bus to Butuan and Surigao. Land distance is about 320 kilometers. Ferry services are provided by SuperFerry and Negros Navigation.
3) Take a bus to Dumaguete and take the SuperFerry to Nasipit and then a bus or van to Butuan and a bus to Surigao. Nasipit-Surigao is just 144 kilometers.
4) Take a Ceres bus to Cebu and take the Cebu-Surigao ferry via Cokaliong or Cebu Ferries.
Just Google the websites of SuperFerry, Negros Navigation, Cokaliong or Cebu Ferries for the latest schedules. The bus in any of the routes run almost 24 hours and are provided by Rural, Bachelor and Ceres which are sister companies.
To: Don G
The shortest RORO connection is Manila-Pilar (Sorsogon)-Masbate City-Cataingan or Cawayan (both in Masbate)-Bogo (Cebu)-Cebu City.
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Hi, it would be nice to received any feedback from the replies of Sir Mike, whether it worked properly or there was an increase of price and any other alternate routes you took, this can info can be used by our future readers. And of course a thank you note to Sir Mike will be greatly appreciated…
August 23rd, 2010 at 2:57 am
Thanks for the plug. I would really appreciate feedback (things change). And of course a little thank you helps. I do spend time at times to research or ask our group (Philippine Ship Spotters Society — PSSS).
August 30th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 pm
September 5th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I’m sorry i’m not well-versed on those things. I just noticed that if you will be shipping a truckload of chicken then they are strict. But i know they don’t mind fighting cocks and i wonder if they are even vaccinated and i assume your dog is. I don’t know if you have your own car but i do just hope they don’t make a particular hassle in your case. Last July i was with a queue in Dapitan and a group loaded to a Negros Navigation ship a wooden cage containing a dog and i didn’t see them go thru quarantine and the guards of the port and ship didn’t mind. Maybe you just have to be prepared to give some coffee and cigarette money. It’s no that i condone anything; i am just saying what i observed is the common practice.
September 24th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
We are going to have a land trip adventure this coming October.Please advise us which is the best route to go:
Mnl-Surigao-Bohol
Is it safe for foreigners to go on this land trip?
Thanks for your time.
Cheers,
Amy
September 25th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
If we go to Mnl-Surigao and were taking our toyota revo with us, is it better to go with super ferry? Or will it cost more but the distance of travel is far more quicker? Is it right?
We are going to travel by roro my initial plan was:
Mnl- Bohol- Surigao- Mnl
or is better to go:
Mnl- Surigao (w/Superferry)- Bohol (by roro)- Mnl (roro)
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks Again
Cheers,
Amy
September 26th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Of course if you will bring a car it will cost you more. But the advantage is you can you the car moving around in your destination and the travel is an adventure in itself.
Do you really need to go to Bohol? The normal way to Surigao by car is via Samar and Leyte. A trip to Bohol is a diversion. So from Bato, Leyte you have to take the RORO to Ubay, Bohol. And from Bohol the cheapest is to take the Jagna-Nasipit ferry.
I won’t mind if you write again so i can understand better the help that you need.
Mike
September 26th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Thank you so much for your help and for your quick replied.
This site is so informative for all the holiday makers like us.
We would like to travel from MNL-SURIGAO-BOHOL-MNL by RORO.
But we don’t want to take the leyte route.Is there any other option aside from that route?
How about if we go to MNL-SURIGAO by superferry then coming back from Sur – Bohol via landtrip how can we do that, or is it even possible?
We need to go to Bohol for some business trip.
Thanks again for your time.
Cheers,
Amy
September 27th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Loading a car on a long-distance trip will cost you dear. I will not be surprised if they will charge PhP15,000. And you have to pay the fare separately. You can drive Manila-Bicol-Samar-Leyte-Surigao and spend less than half (half including hotels and food).
If you want to go Surigao-Bohol back the cheapest is still to backtrack to Leyte. But if you want to visit the islands your route back could be Surigao-Nasipit-Jagna-Loon-Argao-Bogo-Cataingan-Masbate City-Pilar, Sorsogon-Manila. But that might take you 4 days and that could be backbreaking. The alternative is Surigao-Nasipit-Jagna-Loon-Argao-Toledo City-San Carlos-Bacolod-Dumangas-Caticlan-Roxas, Oriental Mindoro-Calapan-Batangas-Manila. This will take you 6 days. Or Surigao-Balingoan-Guinsiliban-Mambajao-Jagna-Loon-Argao-Toledo City-San Carlos-Bacolod-Dumangas-Caticlan-Roxas-Calapan-Batangas-Manila. This will even take you a little longer and no less cheaper. The cost of this long trip will be higher than just simply loading your car in SuperFerry. One can easily get sick in a long trip like this and i do not advise it. But if you can rest in Bohol, maybe. There is not much problem in a long trip if you can take enough rest along the way and budget is not a problem. Good luck!
Mike
September 27th, 2010 at 11:02 am
I forgot. Just use Google and Wikipedia to find out the places i mentioned. And consult a map to see the relative distances. And just take note that in the not-so-well-established ferry crossing harmonizing the schedule can be difficult as in you might have to wait a half day before the RORO leaves. Just write again if you have finalized your route and i can answer the details. Too long if i will write all the details and possibilities this early.
Mike
September 27th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Another possibility to Bohol is Surigao-Lipata (Surigao)- Liloan (S. Leyte)-Bato (S. Leyte)-Ubay, Bohol. Two ferry rides but like the Camiguin route there is an everyday connection unlike the Nasipit route.
Mike
October 6th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Could anyone help us please. Kindly advise what are the simplest and secure way going to our province by land trip using our sedan. We are from Batangas and planning to go home this christmas to Negros. How many hours it would take? Is there any problem along the road? Your advice is highly appreciated. Thank you very much.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
You would have to take your car to Calapan by RORO. Then drive to Roxas, Oriental Mindoro to take the RORO to Caticlan. Then drive to Dumangas, Iloilo to take the RORO to Bacolod City. The ROROs run 24 hours in the 3 crossing though frequency varies. Including waiting time at the ports your travel time from Batangas to Bacolod would be a little over 24 hours (if you don’t sleep along the way and take your meals only in the ports). No expected problems along the way if speaking of bad roads and peace and order. If ever, the problem will be congestion and queues because of the nature of the season. Especially very tight near Christmas day and New Year.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
October 21st, 2010 at 5:32 am
October 22nd, 2010 at 8:32 am
Lipata-Liloan will cost you some P3,000. Re Isabel-Danao, i don’t know the rate. But you can try calling Aznar (032)234-4628, 234-4625, 234-4629. Or you could try the Palompon-Bogo route which is probably cheaper.
October 22nd, 2010 at 8:46 am
There is no Matnog-Dapitan ferry. One alternative is you go to Bulan, a nearby town and take the RORO to Masbate City(ferry leaves morning). From there you can drive to either Cataingan or Cawayan, Masbate (ferry leaves noontime in both) and get a ferry to Bogo, Cebu. From Bogo drive to Bato, Samboan, Cebu. The Lite Ferry there offers a direct service to Dapitan (leaves at 6pm).
But this connection will always leave you in a lurch as the skeds don’t mesh. Alternately, you can load your car from Matnog to Allen (24 hours departure) then drive all the way to Liloan, Southern Leyte. There load your car to Lipata, Surigao City (5 ferry trips per day:5pm, 7pm, 11pm, 7am and 11 am). Then a long drive to Mukas, Tubod, Lanao del Norte for a ferry to Ozamis (runs except for late night). From Ozamis drive to Dapitan City.
There are other routes but they are no less complicated and might not be necessarily cheaper. I suggest the 2nd alternative tho it will mean 2 long drives. Allen-Liloan is 430 kilometers and some 9 hours and Lipata-Mukas is 482 kilometers and some 9 hours also but you might get to enjoy them more and it will turn out cheaper.
October 23rd, 2010 at 7:25 am
October 23rd, 2010 at 8:42 am
From what place please?
October 25th, 2010 at 7:55 am
October 25th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I don’t exactly know where Hilosig (Hilusig?) is. But whatever better take the Baybay-Mahaplag-Liloan road. It is shorter.
October 27th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
My question is is their other better alternatives beside the Cebu-Ormoc route.
From Ormoc, how many hours is it to Tacloban City?
And from Tacloban City how many hours to Allen?
Many thanks.
October 28th, 2010 at 11:20 am
October 29th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
November 1st, 2010 at 5:57 am
Probably the cheapest is take the Bogo-Palompon ferry (that is the main connection between Cebu and Leyte) and then drive to Allen.
Sked is 12nn daily. Number is (032)2323150 – Super Shuttle Ferry.
Another alternative that can be tried is the Bogo-Cawayan, Masbate ferry. Sked is 12mn daily. Same company. Then drive to Masbate City and take the ferry to Pilar, Sorsogon. Trip is 4x daily. Operator is Montenegro; http://www.montenegrolines.com.ph/msli_web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=116&Itemid=9
Good luck!
November 1st, 2010 at 5:58 am
http://www.montenegrolines.com.ph/msli_web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=116&Itemid=9
November 1st, 2010 at 6:00 am
The only operator now to Cebu is Negros Navigation;
http://www.negrosnavigation.ph/index.shtml
November 4th, 2010 at 11:40 am
November 6th, 2010 at 4:39 am
You did not say your point of departure. I assume it is Manila. If so drive first to Matnog, Sorsogon and take the ferry there to Allen, Samar. It runs 24 hours with departures every hour or two. it might cost you P2,000.
From Allen drive straight to Liloan, S. Leyte and take the ferry there to Lipata, Surigao City. There are 5 trips a day (6am, 11am, 5pm, 7pm and 11pm). Fare will be over P3,000 now.
Good luck!
November 10th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
i would like to ask for the best and cheapest route from general santos to bacolod.
thanks po.
December 12th, 2010 at 1:37 am
December 12th, 2010 at 1:38 am
December 13th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Drive to Pilar, Sorsogon and take the montenegro RORO there to Masbate City. From there drive to either Cataingan and take the Montenegro ferry there which leaves at 12nn. Or drive to Cawayan and take the Super Shuttle Ferry there which also leaves at 12nn. Both ferries dock in Bogo, Cebu and from there drive to your place in Cebu.
Just take note a Wrangler will cost more in the RORO. Good luck!
December 19th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:14 am
December 30th, 2010 at 6:06 am
Where can I get updated information on road conditions and RORO ferry crossings? I heard the Samar roads are now fixed. Is this true? Ditto with the Agusan-Davao road. What are the RORO schedules, especially for the Leyte-Mindanao portion? Can we reserve RORO slots in advance? Are their security issues on land travel? I would appreciate very much your help on this. Thanks.
January 3rd, 2011 at 7:45 pm
January 7th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
February 3rd, 2011 at 3:59 am
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:03 am
MAE…
February 27th, 2011 at 4:53 am
I’m planning to take a trip from Tacloban city to Ormoc city then pass by Carigara for 2-3hrs and go to Tagbilaran bohol. Can you please suggest how to go on land travel.
I badly need your help, I’m due to travel by March 9.
Thank you so much!
March 9th, 2011 at 10:44 am
March 14th, 2011 at 7:07 am
March 15th, 2011 at 1:01 am
The cheapest and most direct would be to go to Labogon port in Mandaue for a trip to Hindang (unfortunately i don’t know the sked and rate but try the port captain 09228661048}. Then drive to Liloan via the Bato-Tomas Oppus mountain road. Take the ferry there to Lipata and drive to Trento, Agusan del Sur (avoid the Tandag road — not yet finished), the junction to Bislig.
The two ferries might cost you P3,000 (just an estimate). Land distance about 500kms.
Alternative would be to take the night ferry from Cebu port to Bato, Leyte and again drive over the mountain road in the direction of Liloan.
To the others: I’m sorry if i was not able to help. I was not aware of your queries. This is just volunteer effort on my part when the editor sends to me the message.
March 17th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
route
1. mandaue – hindang – liloan – trento – bislig (your recomendation)
2. arago – loon – jagna – camiguin – balingoan – bislig
3. bato – tampi – dumaguete – dapitan – bislig
is it really route 1 is shorter that route 2.. (route 2 is a bit expensive coz the jagna-camiguin roro fare for suv cars is around P3,800 and P380 per passenger)
March 17th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
March 17th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
March 18th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
That mountain road (it’s actually a highway) is safe. That is the shortcut rather than pass thru Maasin. The passengers vans that service the passengers unloading in Bato and Hilongos pass through that to Sogod, Silago, San Ricardo.
You will have to pass thru Butuan. But the junction is barrio Ampayon, some 12 kilometers before the city. It is a prominent junction with proper signs. The Surigao-Tandag-Bislig road is still too rough in many stretches.
The route through Dapitan is difficult. Simply to far and if you are a single driver you might simply get worn out (about 650 kms via Mukas and 21 hours driving incl meal stops and 22 hours if via Monte Alegre). There is another ferry ride between Ozamis and Mukas in that route (unless you want to drive a further 120kms via Monte Alegre).
Understand rolling cargo rates are high. The more you ride a ship the higher the cost. Via Camiguin is 3 ferry rides as is the via Dapitan. If you don’t want the Mandaue-Hindang or night Cebu-Bato or Cebu-Hilongos or Cebu-Ormoc ferries the route via Bogo and Palompon will even be better than the other alternatives you are thinking.
April 14th, 2011 at 3:19 am
I am planning to travel from Manila to Bacolod City by Land and Roro, can you advise me my Roro Connection and more or less how much it will cost plus the specific time table, please. I would like to travel with my HIAACE VAN, WITH 10 PASSENGERS CAPACITY. Do I need to make reservation on the RoRo? I will travel by December, so I may have enough time to prepare my reservation back and forth from Manila and Bacolod. thank you very much.
April 14th, 2011 at 10:11 am
me and my friends will be in donsol sorsogon during black sat this holy week. we need to be back in cebu by mon and the only feasible sea route is via masbate. if we take the 5am ferry from pilar sorsogon to aroroy masbate, can we possibly catch the 12pm ferry from cawayan to bogo cebu??? i don’t know exactly the travel time from the port of aroroy to cawayan that’s why i’m seeking for your advice.
thanks..
April 14th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Normal route is to take car to Batangas port, board the RORO for Calapan, then drive to Roxas, Oriental Mindoro to take the ferry to Caticlan. From Caticlan drive to Dumangas, Iloilo to take the RORO to Bacolod. All of those you will take ae short-distance ROROs where the queue system is used and not a reservation system. Just be careful if it is Christmas rush as the queue will be long.
April 14th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
Don’t take the ferry to Aroroy. It is much farther and you will have no chance to reach the Cawayan ferry or Cataingan ferry. Take instead the ferry to Masbate City. And better target too the Cataingan ferry as it is easier to reach that with more available land rides. Distance and ferry ETD are the same.
Take note a Pilar-masbate RORO takes 4 hours minimum. Some motor bancas can do that route in less than that time but the slower ones have the same transit time. A fastcraft takes 2 hours only.
The faster way to Cataingan is the van. That normally takes 2 hours+. Excluding waiting time and that could be a critical killer.
What i am pointing out is if handled incorrect reaching the ferry to Bogo could be iffy. My advices:
1. Take the earliest possible ferry preferably the fastcraft.
2. Upon arriving at Masbate City port ask immediately for the ROROBUS to Cebu. Take that if possible as the RORO will be waiting for that. It’s faster than the van and no need to transfer to the bus terminal two kilometers away. The bus is your insurance move.
3. Otherwise transfer immediately to the bus terminal by tricycle and ask for the van that will connect to the ferry.
Honestly, your connected rides are the type that gives me butterflies in the stomach. One failure and it’s kaput. And you don’t even have the fall-back direct Masbate-Cebu or Cataingan-Cebu ferries coz both leave on Saturday and not Sunday. Even the alternative Calbayog-cebu ferries leave on a Saturday. Sunday is a difficult day to fail. Good luck! You need that.
April 19th, 2011 at 3:31 am
My family is planning for a road trip from Manila to CDO this coming June 2011. I have some concern in ferry schedule and cost. Any advice you can provide for us? ferry schedule, contact numbers and cost estimate (suv).
Is it safe to say that we should avoid traveling at night?
From the map, I am looking at taking night stop at Bicol and Tacloban.
are these roro-routes correct?
Matnog-Allen-Matnog
Liloan-Lipat-Liloan
I also read from other blogs that there is corruption taking on somewhere in Matnog port.
Thank you in advance.
April 19th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
You are not wrong. Your route is Manila-Matnog-Allen or San Isidro-Tacloban-Liloan or San Ricardo-Lipata-CDO. Your planned night stops are sound. There is no security problem running at night. But i am a little apprehensive of running at night in Samar coz of lack of houses and lighting, almost no cars running so having mechanical trouble is a problem.
Matnog ferries run almost by the hour, 24 hours to Allen and San Isidro. There are three competing shipping groups in Matnog (Sta. Clara [Tel: (02)633-5892/93]+Penafrancia [(054)8111754]+168 Shipping, Philharbor [Tel: (02)775-0441] and Montenegro) and there is no harm canvassing. Lots of fixers in Matnog but you don’t really need them. I wonder if corruption is now back that clearances are again required to load a vehicle.
Be careful of illegal exactions in Liloan. Don’t pay. They can’t do anything anyway but they will bully you and even use a policeman as a bogey. The ferry in San Ricardo is nearer to Lipata so it could be cheaper. Montenegro Shipping (Reservation, Travel & Tours : (043) 723-6980 / 723-8294) runs that. It’s new and i don’t know the schedule. In Liloan there are ferries at 4am, 6am, 11am, 5pm, 7pm, 11pm. Tacloban-Liloan is 3 hours. Add one more hour for San Ricardo. But give allowance as you will still have to process papers.
Matnog-Allen rates for SUV could be some P1,500. Lipata-Liloan will be over P2,000. I am not current about the latest rates. Aside from the basic RORO rate you still have to pay PPA charges. But municipal taxes are illegal and is not needed for boarding (but you will have a disputative argument with them). Driver is free to board but your family will have to pay the passenger fare and all of you have to pay the terminal fee. Sometimes they line up also the insurance booths and some think it is mandatory; it’s not.
Bring the necessary papers of your car and be careful there is no obvious violation. Your clearance in Matnog should be good for Liloan.
Good luck.
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:01 pm
thank you
April 25th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Drive first to Dumangas, Iloilo and take the ferry there to Bacolod. From there there are choices but i will suggest you just take the San Carlos-Toledo ferry. Then drive to Argao, Cebu to take the ferry to Loon, Bohol. But if you are going to somewhere north or east then you can take the Ouano, Mandaue-Jetafe ferry (leaves at noon). There are also Cebu-Talibon and Cebu-Tubigon ferries but the first two are cheaper. From Bohol route to Leyte is via Ubay for either Bato or Maasin. Good luck!
April 25th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
A) The only sure ferry trips are at 3am and 5pm. Other posted schedules depend on the volume of vehicles wanting to cross and are often cancelled.
B) Within the port compound is a pension house run by the PPA, a bare bones affair but travellers can at least lie down as well as take a shower. If you want to take the 3am ferry, you will best arrive in Liloan late afternoon because the road from Tacloban runs through the mountains close to Liloan and quite scary to travel through at night. The pension house is supposedly open 24/7 but there was nobody there during the time we were in Liloan.
D) The fare for an SUV is P2500, excluding arrastre and other fees, but including the driver’s fare. This changes unpredictably. The posted fare on the large tarpaulin billboard stated that the fare for an SUV is P3,500. The guard told me that it has been discounted to P2500. BUT there is a posted notice that states that discounting will no longer apply!
C) Having said that, I advise that travellers forget Liloan. The ferry service is poor and unpredictable and I feel that they have kept travellers at their mercy for so long. And it takes three hours on the ferry to get to Lipata, Surigao. Go instead 41 km further south to the new Port of San Ricardo, through the town of San Francisco and just past the town of Pintuyan. Montenegro Lines runs a ro-ro line from San Ricardo to Lipata and vv. And they follow their schedule of departing from San Ricardo every 6am, 2pm, and 6pm. I am not sure if they run on Sundays. We paid P2,500 TOTAL for transporting our SUV and three additional passengers (my family)and it only takes one hour from San Ricardo to Lipata. Makes you wonder why it takes three hours from Liloan when it is only 41 km away. Sorry, I did not think to stop and ask the schedule of trips from Lipata to San Ricardo since we were all anxious to be on our way.
Hope this helps. To all travellers, safe tracking always.
April 27th, 2011 at 10:21 am
nora jimenez cuyos-gardner
from nc,usa
April 27th, 2011 at 10:38 am
May 5th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
good day!
we’re planning to bring multicab next month(june), can you help us about the details on how to travel from cebu to tandag surigao del sur through roro? saan kami pwede sasakay nang roro, magkano ang fares/rate at ilang araw ba ang byahi? its our 1st time kasi to travel bringing a multicab..but we better preffer to stop in butuan kasi sementado na ang daan doon patungo tandag..whats the best options to travel there easily and fast? thanks po in advance..
May 6th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
I just want to say thank you for all the information you have posted here. You have managed to make sense of the chaotic ferry schedules and routes. I don’t need help planning (yet) but I will remember to ask you for help. May I suggest you or your group create a blog or website with all the information that you keep in your head. It would be an amazing resource for those wanting to do local tourism or, like me, just want to see the countryside (the real Philippines) one of these days. If you do decide to do a blog, I’d be sure to promote your blog to everyone I know. It would be a big help to those doing road trips and would help save you time trying to answer the same questions. Maybe even include a few recommended itineraries and logistics for people to follow, with links and contact information to ferry companies, etc. And if you can make itineraries that connect to another itinerary for longer trips it would be even better. Thanks again.
EC
May 6th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
May 8th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Your comments are very much welcome. Thanks a lot.
The website of Philippine Ship Spotters Society is under construction. We will have articles on ports & shipping and routes & shipping companies. Thanks for the offer of promotion. We just want our website to be a shipping resource and a tool so that people can understand local shipping and routes better. And also enjoy the images of our local ships.
I was on a trip to Cebu (PSSS meeting and ship spotting) and Leyte recently and i am sorry i was not able to check and reply to some of the queries. But please check too your Spam folder as i remember i have a reply to Nora regarding the Cataingan trip.
Kind regards.
May 8th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
I was surprised by the jump in the rates there. When the Benit, San Ricardo-Liloan route just opened. Rates there for passengers and rolling cargo are much cheaper as the route is less than half the distance of the Liloan route.
In Liloan there are slow ferries (the Maharlika and Millenium ferries). Those usually take 3.5-4.5 hours. Fastest is Super Shuttle Ferry 18 which only takes 2:15 while Ocean King 1 takes 3:15.
By the way there is a new Liloan (municipal port) to San Jose, Dinagat ferry (a big motor banca). Departure is 6pm.
May 8th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
The cheapest Cebu-Leyte connection is via the cargo LCT in Labogon, Mandaue to Hindang, Leyte. It leaves early night. It’s the neighbor and sister facility of SOCOR shipyard. Bring provisions as that is a cargo LCT (a new one). The RORO-passenger (ro-pax) vessel companies are Cokaliong (Cebu-Maasin and Cebu-Maasin-Surigao) which has a website and Roble Shipping (032-2553871) which has a route to Hilongos and Medallion Shipping ( 09192271069/09212338971–not current numbers but you can check them at Cebu Pier 1 or 3) which has a route to Bato. Those will charge higher. The other Leyte ports of entry are already far. Alternatively you can check Carlos A. Gothong (032-2329990) which offers cheap cargo rates to Nasipit (thereby bypassing the need to take the Liloan or Benit to Lipata route) and drive the extra kilometers in S. Leyte and Surigao del Norte.
Expect P2,500-4,000 for a Leyte transfer and an additional P2,500-3,000 in Liloan (it’s much cheaper in Benit, San Ricardo). Ferries to Leyte are usually one overnight and by lunchtime you will be in Liloan (drive the Bato mountain highway as it is shorter). Drive fast to be able to take the 11am ferry. Next trip is 5pm. If you miss the 11am ferry just drive on to Benit. A ferry there leaves at 2pm.
The Surigao highway is much better now and it is summer. Could be worth taking chance. But if you want smooth roads then take the Butuan route. Good luck!
May 8th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
Take the bus to Matnog. There is a noon motor banca there to Capul. Or you might be more comfortable with the motor banca that leaves Allen (but it might pass by Dalupiri) and you will arrive late afternoon. Last trip is about 1pm. Good luck!
May 15th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
May 16th, 2011 at 12:22 am
May 16th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
May 28th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Allen to Matnog ferries run 24 hours every 1 or 2 hours from two ports, Balicuatro and Dapdap. Additionally there is a San Isidro to Matnog connection.
I don’t know the latest rolling cargo rates. It could be about P2,000.
May 28th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Nearest is Tacloban to Palompon then drive to Tabuelan for a ferry to Escalante then drive to Bacolod for a ferry to Dumangas then drive to Caticlan for a boat ride to Boracay.
Departure of ferry from Palompon is early afternoon. Tabuelan-Escalante ferries are 24 hours and there is a dawn departure. Bacolod-Dumangas ferries also run 24 hours.
May 31st, 2011 at 7:14 pm
punta kmi surigao next month dala po nmin yung kia pregio van and motorcycle inside the van and two adults magkano po b fare , what are the best route,at magkano po lahat magagastos namin where from bacoor cavite ,ilang days po yung travel time ,nabasa ko po sa ibang coomment where going to batanggas to matnog to allen samar and liloan leyte to lipata,ilang hours po byahe bago kmi makapunta sa susunod n ferry hope you reply po thanks a lot.
June 7th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
we are planning to send our mitsubishi canter van empty from cebu city to valenzuela manila via RO-RO..
pls give us an idea kung ano po sasakyan namin na shipping lines at mga mgkano po kaya rate nyan sir at mga ilang oras beyahe?
thank you in advance..
June 8th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Sorry i did not receive notice of your query. First better pack up your motorcycle that it will not be conspicuous if you want to save some money and just declare it as “machinery”. But make sure you bring its papers. If you need to take off the wheels then do it.
The cheapest route is Bacoor-Matnog-Allen-Benit, San Ricardo-Lipata, Surigao. Using the western or central section of the SRNH will cost so much higher and trip will be longer.
I am not current about the rates but the rolling cargo rate in Matnog-Allen and S. Ricardo-Lipata might be around P2,500 each. Up to Surigao City the road kilometers is about 1,000kms+.
Travel time will normally be 2 days incl a probable sleeping stop. Bacoor-Matnog is about 13 hours by bus (private travel time will depend on the skill of the driver and his/her familiarity with the road and if he/she has a reliever). Allen-Benit is about 11 hours.
Good luck!
June 8th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Empty trucks cost less. Just take the RORO in Bogo, Cebu to either Cawayan or Cataingan, Masbate then drive to Masbate City to take the RORO to Pilar, Sorsogon and drive to Valenzuela. The ferries in Bogo leave midnight every day.
I am not sure of the rates now coz it was adjusted and Montenegro and SSF has the tendency to charge higher. But it still can cost you maybe P4,000 for each ferry ride. Sometimes i reckon that altho the kilometers in the Bogo-Palompon-Allen-Matnog route is much higher it might not be more expensive.
Via Masbate it will not reach two days if there is no sleeping stop. It will be two days if via Leyte-Samar.
If in Masbate and there is a ferry to Lucena also ask the rates and compare. It will cut 360 kilometers.
June 10th, 2011 at 11:00 am
A wonderful weekend!
I’ve spent couple of hours reading this article, and the information I’ve read was extremely helpful. However, there are still couple of things need clarification (if there have been any changes or the likes).
We’re planning to travel (by car) from Luzon (Manila) to Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro/Camiguin), I’d like to know the following, please?
I assumed our route would be:
1. Land travel from Manila -> Matnog, Sorsogon
2. RORO from Matnog -> Allen, north Samar
3. Land travel from Allen -> Liloan, then Lipanta, Surigao -> CDO
What I would like to know are the following:
1. How many Kilometers from Manila to Matnog (so I can estimate the travel time and fuel to be consumed)?
2. How much fare of RORO (car, per pax) from Matnog -> Allen?
3. How many kilometers from Allen -> Liloan -> lipanta -> cdo?
Also, I’ve heard about Batangas RORO to mindanao… would that be shorter than going north? Perhaps, if you can tell me the best route manila – cdo/camiguin, I would really appreciate that.
Thank you so much!
Alfred
June 10th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
The route Manila-Matnog-Allen-Liloan-Lipata is ok. To Camiguin you take the ferry in Balingoan to Guinsiliban if going to the eastern side and Benoni if going to the western side of Camiguin.
If going first to Camiguin you can drive from Allen to Bato, Leyte via Baybay and take the ferry there to Ubay. From Jagna there is a ferry to Balbagon, Mambajao.
If Lipata is your target the ferry in Benit, San Ricardo will be cheaper than the one in Liloan.
The ferry route thru Batangas is simply too far, too costly.
Matnog-Allen car charges about P2,000. Per pax is less than P150. Driver is free. Liloan-Lipata might be over P3,000. Benit is cheaper.
Manila-Matnog is about 590 kms. Allen-Liloan is about 430 kms. Benit is 41 kms more. Lipata-CDO is about 327 kms.
June 10th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
thank you very much for the helpful guide..they’ll travel on wednesday june 15..
have a great weekend to all..
June 12th, 2011 at 3:48 am
I am planning to buy multicab in Subic as it is cheaper and take it to Mindanao(Surigao City)What is the best way to send it to Mindanao?
June 12th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
If driving it then go to Matnog, take the ferry to Allen and drive to San Ricardo, Leyte and take ferry there to Lipata, Surigao City. But that will still cost you about P9,000 excl lodging. Multicab is small. Maybe you can try calling/passing by Carlos A. Gothong Lines inc. (CAGLI not Gothong Southern) in Pier 18 to ask how much they will charge for Nasipit and compare.
June 12th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Welcome and thanks too for the appreciation.
June 12th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Thank you so much for the quick and helpful response. You are truly wonderful!
Can I have few more questions, please?
Which route is the chepeast: #1 Manila-Matnog-Allen-Liloan-Lipata-cdo, #2 Manila-Matnog-Allen-Bato-ubay-Jagna-camiguin?
I’m as well going to Camiguin after CDO, so I don’t mind which route to take first as long as they’re the cheapest and less travel time.
Also, do you happen to know if there are any rough-roads going from Manila-Matnog? I’ll bring along my sedan car (quite old) so I’m trying to know ahead what to expect (definitely, I won’t travel during night).
Thanks,
Alfred
June 12th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
When you say “What is the best way”, what do you exactly mean by this?
Are you asking about the cheapest way or “hassle free” (but it’s more costly)?
June 13th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
If you are going first to CDO then the way thru Surigao will be by far cheaper. Even if you are going to Camiguin first the way thru Benit, San Ricardo will still be the cheapest coz of the shorter sea distance. And the way thru Surigao has more ferry skeds.
In the Manila-Matnog section there are just a few rough spots after Quezon but otherwise the road is fine.
Be more careful of breakdowns after Matnog as service and parts are not as easy compared to Luzon.
June 14th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Thanks. That’s a great route, though I’ve read from an article online that there is only one ferry every morning from San Ricardo across to Mindanao. If you confirm this is true, I still prefer the convenience of the Liloan ferry. There are several trips a day from this port but only one early morning trip from San Ricardo.
Thanks, I’ll make sure the vehicle is running in a very good condition.
June 19th, 2011 at 9:19 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29421855@N07/5844461881/in/pool-922345@N25/
June 24th, 2011 at 8:54 am
There are 4 trips daily, San Ricardo-Lipata. It is on the column on the left. I cannot guarantee all will run but sked is more than once daily. The 6pm sked is sure. That takes in the buses for Mindanao.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58811578@N02/5664763190/in/photostream
June 24th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Sorry for the error. The San Ricardo-Lipata sked is on the right and the Lipata-San Ricardo sked is on the left:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58811578@N02/5664763190/in/photostream
June 24th, 2011 at 9:04 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29421855@N07/5783079943/
The Liloan-Lipata sked:
3:30am/6:30am/11am/5pm/7pm/9m
As of this week Ocean King 1 is on drydock. She holds the 6:30am Liloan-Lipata sked.
June 28th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
June 29th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Drive to Escalante and take RORO to Tabuelan, Cebu.. From there drive to Bogo, Cebu and take ferry to Palompon, Leyte. Just take note there is only one ferry trip per day there and it leaves at 7:30 am. There is an alternative Aznar ship in Danao for Isabel but it also leaves at 7:30. The Palompon route is better for you.
From Palompon drive to Allen, Samar via Tacloban. The Balicuatro port has more trips than the Dapdap port and there is also a RORO in S. Isidro which comes before Allen. In Allen take the ferry to Matnog and then drive to Legazpi.
It’s also possible to take the Masbate route. In Bogo there are two midnight ferries, one to Cawayan, the other to Cataingan, Masbate. Then drive to Masbate City to take the RORO to Pilar, Sorsogon. From Pilar drive to Legazpi.
This might be less tiresome but i think the total cost will be higher because of the longer ferry routes (they cost about 10x or even more than the cost of running in the highway per kilometer).
Good luck!
July 13th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
I need help me and my father are planning to drive by land from Iloilo City to Davao City, can you please guide and help us, what routes to take, roros and the calculated cost of the trip including roro and gas, thank you so much for the help and time.
July 15th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Rates will depend on kind of vehicle. Rates of sedan and SUV differ. Elf/Canter rates differ if it’s loaded or not.
I tried SuperFerry calculator for sedan, Iloilo-CDO route. It comes up to about P18,000. You will still have to pay PPA charges. And probably fare. Negros Navigation could be a little cheaper. But still it will be stiff and you might be better of driving through Negros. But be prepared for a very long drive.
Drive to Dumangas and take the RORO to Bacolod. From Bacolod drive to Dumaguete via Mabinay and take the ferry to Dapitan.
From Dapitan the normal route for a Christian and the safety-conscious is this. Drive to Ozamis and take the RORO to Mukas. From Mukas drive to CDO. From CDO drive to Davao City.
Your total land kilometers is about 900. Just calculate your fuel expense. For the ROROs the 3 connections for a sedan will come up to about P8,000 including ferry fares for one as only one driver is free.
The Iloilo-CDO route will save you 550 kms. It might cost you P3000 in fuel plus that P8000 for 3 RORO rides. Still cheaper than the nearly P20,000 for SuperFerry. Even if you eat along the way and stay in lodging houses you will still be ahead. Good luck!
July 20th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
I’m happy to report that we’ve just got a successful and safety landtrip from manila to visayas-Mindanao (Camiguin – Bukidnon). I’d like to share our experiences (post some pics) once I have enough time.
Meanwhile, thank you Mike for all the guidance and all, though we’re actually using GPS built into the phone but your advice made us decide to pursue the journey. The printed map is very different compare to the actual places, so it’s really hard to rely on it. GPS is a great help.
Thanks
July 21st, 2011 at 4:31 pm
That’s great. Will you be able to update us and provide details about the road trip? timing, ferry schedule, cost, etc. Thanks!
I was supposed to have the same road trip from Manila-CDO last June but due to weather, we postponed the trip.
Ed
July 21st, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Welcome and thanks too. I really would like to have a feedback to check the accuracy of my advice. Conditions change, new developments happen. Yes, our maps are inaccurate. Even lots of indicated roads not in existence or not passable at all.
If you wish please post pics at our group;
http://www.flickr.com/groups/psss/
Hope Editor-in-Chief/Admin does not mind. We really love ship photos.
August 9th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Just want to give an update on the Roro rates:
Matnog-Allen, we paid 960 for a Suzuki Alto incl 1 free drive. Passengers go at P120. As the Alto incl baggae weight 840kg it seems they charge 1P/kg of car.
In San Ricardo Lipata we had to pay flat P2100 regardless of car weight (due to lack of competeting roro lines they said).
August 12th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
August 14th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Drive to Matnog, Sorsogon and take any RORO to Samar (there are ROROs to Balicuatro, Dapdap and San Isidro, all nearby ports) and then drive to either Liloan Ferry Terminal (the rate there is P2,520) or Benit, San Ricardo (rate there is P2,100 according to Kokoy). Benit is 41kms farther than Liloan. From Lipata drive to Davao via Butuan.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
I’m also planning to travel by car from Pasay to Davao.Since I’m from Gensan I want to know the route preferably where the turns and the detours are following the Maharlika Highway (or the way yoo took.)
My most concern is the route from Pasay to Matnog. I have travelled twice by bus but we took off midnight from Pasay it’s hard to get familiarized with the route.
Thanks. Would appreciate it so much if you can provide the info.
JUn D
August 30th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
The best I could recommend really is to use a gps map loaded into your phone. Based on my experience, printed maps are quite confusing, not all roads/inter-sections were covered/showed, even the actual roads do not have signboards. You could still reach your destination though, but the travel time is much slower since you need to stop/start and ask around, in that case, it’s risky to travel during night. I’m really poor with directions but with the help of GPS (real-time Google map), it helps me track the road I’m currently on.
Nonetheless, I’ll try to give directions as much as I could from manila to matnog, Sorsogon.
From SLEX -> take Sto Thomas Exit -> San Pablo, laguna (you’ll pass through SM san pablo) -> Tiaong, Quezon -> just keep left until you reach Candelaria, quezon. dont take the batangas road, that’s way to far to your destination.
-> Then, Ggo strainght to Sariaya, Quezon -> do not go to Pagbilao,quezon it’s very far from the maharlika highway, instead go all the way to Atimonan, Quezon until you reach Daet, Guinobatan, Anislang (Mayon volcano), Daraga, etc — these are Bicol towns
-> then Legaspi. From Legaspi it would probably take 2-4 hours(?) before you will reach -> sorsogon, where matnog is at.
From legazpi to matnog you’ll pass by the following towns: Villahermosa, Casiguran, Juban, Irosin, Matnog.
Let me know if you need anything else, please.
Thanks,
Alfred
August 30th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
August 31st, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Next watch out in S. Pablo. You should go right. in Sariaya junction , go right else you end up in Tayabas (but the view there is nice but you lose kms.) In Pagbilao junction, go left (else you end up in Bondoc road). Atimonan, it’s two right turns. Gumaca, don’t go right (it’s the road to Bondoc). In Tabugon junction after Calauag it’s a right turn (left goes to Camarines Norte). In Sipocot, it’s right turn. Naga, right turn (left goes to city proper–lots of traffic, one-ways). Before Baao after railroad tracks turn right (unless you want to see Iriga). Anayan junction turn right (left goes to Partido district). Daraga, turn right at junction near Shell station. In Putiao juction drive straight ahead. Now before Sorsogon City, there is a road to the left that bypasses city (but driving straight is also good, not too much traffic). There is a junction after Irosin. Go left to Matnog.
Just listed major ones. If possible see where buses go and where traffic is heavier. Secondly, follow the well-travelled road (look at the tire and wear marks).
A word of warning. In Samar travel only at dead hours of the night if you have complete confidence in your car. In case of breakdown you can find yourself kilometers away from the nearest house and there are almost no street lights, no shops open and very few vehicles run in those hours. No hold-up though.
Aside from GPS also carry a road map. An easy reference where you are and to foresee what town comes next.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:58 am
thnx
September 7th, 2011 at 1:58 am
thnx
September 7th, 2011 at 9:55 am
September 9th, 2011 at 8:51 am
end of this month i will travel from fairview quezon city to cebu via matnog samar route by my suv. this is my first time so i need to know a lot of info.
how much is the fare of roro from matnog to allen of an suv?
from there whats the nearest port going to cebu?
how many hours is the travelling time? from fairview to matnog then to allen to the nearset port going to cebu?
whats the best time to depart fairview, coz i dnt want to drive during night time.
an estimated travelling cost will also be great .
if someone can provide me of an updated rates and schedule of the roros it will be highly appreciated and likewise with the contact numbers of the shipping companies a very big thumbs up too. hoping i can get a reply. thank you very much and god bless.
September 9th, 2011 at 9:30 am
Thank you so much,
Stella
October 20th, 2011 at 12:16 am
Good day. I want to transport live animals from Manila to Bacolod via RORO. what is the best route?
What are the names of the shipping lines who will cater to loading 10-wheeler trucks loaded with livestock?
Thanks
Lot
October 20th, 2011 at 10:45 am
You will need Quarantine permit for that. Drive to Batangas. Take ferry to Calapan. The drive to Roxas, Oriental Mindoro and take ferry to Caticlan. Then drive to Dumangas, Iloilo and take ferry to Bacolod. There are many shipping companies in that route, many trips and round-the-clock. For sure you will have many companion truckers along the way and you can try talking to them too.
October 20th, 2011 at 10:51 am
The roads now of Samar are improved though there are some sections under repair but not much. Most are ok. Your Vios should easily reach Surigao.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:36 am
The above infos are very helpful in our travel plan from Manila to Palompon. I would like to know how many kilometers po from allen to palompon leyte? What time would you suggest for us to start our travel since well be bringing w/ us our mitsubishi adventure & we dont want to travel during the night for safety reasons.
Thanks!
November 15th, 2011 at 9:07 am
It is about 374 kilometers. Maybe you can leave Manila at dawn and take the late afternoon or dusk ferry to Allen and find a hotel there. Leaving Allen after breakfast you will arrive Palompon before sundown.
November 15th, 2011 at 9:12 am
There is lodging right inside Balicuatro port:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joecard31/6291675261/
Lodging in Samar is not cheap. There are 2 others outside the port.
November 17th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
November 18th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Charges will be about P2,000 in Matnog and P3,500 in Liloan. Try S. Ricardo in lieu of Liloan. It’s cheaper.
Only the driver is free. The two passengers will pay fare. It is about P165 in Matnog and P300 in Liloan. In S. Ricardo it is only half of Liloan.
November 19th, 2011 at 4:27 am
November 21st, 2011 at 8:26 am
How long will depend on how many drivers will drive, will you drive without let-up or you will spend the night in the hotel, will there be sightseeing or will you drive at serious speeds (familiarity will curves will matter). Manila-Davao is 1,500kms. A good driver can cover 500-600kms in a day (or double if there are two drivers who will drive w/o let-up). Add to that some waiting time in ports, ship transit time (about 1 hours in Matnog) or 3 hours in Liloan (less than two if S. Ricardo) and time for eating and personal things. Two or three days will be normal expectation.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:55 am
December 21st, 2011 at 12:17 am
December 21st, 2011 at 12:33 am
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:34 pm
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:40 pm
December 25th, 2011 at 12:38 am
Take the Montenegro ferry from Liloan to Benit and drive all the way to Sogod and Bontoc. After Bontoc and coming to Tomas Oppus ask for the mountain road to Bato. The distance is much nearer than driving via Maasin. T
This is not new but it might be of help. It will also show the the alternate Lipata-Liloan route.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29421855@N07/5783079943/
December 25th, 2011 at 12:46 am
How big is the dog? If it is small just try to make it innocuous. Otherwise they will ask for quarantine permit. If they do don’t worry. If there is no quarantine office there (i didn’t notice any in Matnog) then it can be “settled”. But don’t let anybody bamboozle you there. Just say it’s just a small thing. What they really look out for are commercial animals like poultry and farm animals (so in that sense your dog is “minor”). Anyway the fixers there are kind and won’t hector you unlike in other ports. And the port manager is a kind man. Just don’t say beforehand you don’t have papers.
By bus Matnog is 13 hours from Manila. It is about 580kms from Cubao, true distance.
December 25th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
I’m not sure if your trip has pushed through, but I’m answering your questions for everybody’s sake. If you’re travelling with a pet (dog), you need to have everything prepared (i.e. papers, etc). During my trip, I haven’t brought a long a dog with me, but as far as I can tell, there are several check points along the way before you reach Matnog. From there, there’s 80% possibility that they would ask papers the moment they’ll see it, they’ll ask you to open the luggage/compartment and inside your car, for them to make sure you’re travelling clean.
However, any of the ports area won’t do any checking at all though, and that’s very odd. What they’ll ask you to do is have your car positioned on the weighing scale, pay the amount and that’s it, no hassle!
Manila to Matnog is more or less a 12 hour ride, assuming you’re travelling 70/80 KPH at the least.
December 25th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
The best way would be: Lipanta Ferry -> Liloan -> follow the Pan Philippines Highway or maharlika, that would lead you to your destination.
View Larger Map
January 2nd, 2012 at 8:28 pm
January 5th, 2012 at 11:07 am
It’s possible. Drive to Bogo City and take the ferry to Cataingan, Masbate. The ferry leaves 12mn. From Cataingan drive to Masbate City and take the ferry to Pilar, Sorsogon. There are trips from morning to afternoon.
January 18th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
January 20th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
No more Lucena-Masbate ferry. The Batangas-Masbate ferry is Super Shuttle Ferry and it leaves every Tuesday at 3pm. Main RORO connections to Masbate are Pilar, Sorsogon and Pio Duran, Albay where there are several trips daily which leaves mainly between dawn to early morning . After that there are still fastcrafts and motor bancas departing Pilar until late afternoon. There are also early morning motor bancas in Pilar. Pilar is the most flexible connection point.
January 21st, 2012 at 2:20 am
January 25th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
January 27th, 2012 at 1:58 am
January 28th, 2012 at 12:03 am
Drive to Cagayan de Oro then to Balingoan. There are ferries there to two ports of Camiguin. Just ask there which connects better to your specific destination.
January 28th, 2012 at 12:28 am
Thanks. It so happened i am the head admin of Philippine Ship Spotters Society and i have been a wide traveller for the past 35 years.
You have a difficult rolling cargo to load. First, the biggest rolling cargoes are the least priority. Second, highest priority are those regulars with special arrangements with the ferry company. Next comes the regulars. They will charge you full, the highest while the priority rolling cargoes will get special discounts and rebates.
Having said that since the Palompom-Cataningan RORO is already gone and going via Palompon now will mean 3 ferry rides. Vehicles that long as yours sometimes take 2 days or so to get loaded so that means a long delay.
Maybe the best is for you to take the Super Shuttle Ferry that runs the route Cagayan de Oro-Mandaue-Masbate-Batangas. Leaves CDO once a week every Saturday 7pm. The charge will probably exceed P30,000. Just contact them:
http://www.cebuboattrips.com/slow_ferries.htm#super_shuttle
January 28th, 2012 at 12:34 am
Take the 12mn trip in Polambato port to Cataingan, Masbate. You will arrive there early morning. From there drive to Masbate City port. About lunchtime/early afternoon there will be ferries to Pio Duran, Albay. From there drive to Ligao City and then turn left to the direction of Manila. CWC is between Pili and Naga on the road to the left going to the Camarines Sur Provincial Capitol. You will arrive there about dinner time.
January 28th, 2012 at 4:21 am
January 29th, 2012 at 5:29 am
Please help us to plan our travel via land trip from Davao going to Bohol. I’m planning to bring with our Sportivo car. Please indicate the name of the Ferry and thier schedule together with their fare. I’m really appreciate to much if you can help us. By the way this is our first land trip travel. Thanks a lot.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:13 am
January 29th, 2012 at 7:35 am
February 3rd, 2012 at 5:42 am
My mother is planning to relocate tonight to Bacolod and my uncle loaned us his KIA K2700 double cab. How much is the truck’s rate from Cagayan De Oro to Cebu? Can you suggest the cheapest route/boat to take with the above mentioned truck?
Thanks
February 7th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
I am a PhD student of Tokyo Tech, Japan. My proposed research is related to cargo shipping through RORO, and now im still in my initial stages. Now Im trying to get information about the utilization of the whole stretch of the nautical highways in terms of cargo shipping, so to have an idea about the competition between RORO and long-haul shipping.
Reading from your replies, the proposed Central Nautical Highway Pilar-Aroroy-Cawayan-Daanbantayan-Cebu-Tubigon-Jagna-Mambajao-Balingon, the whole stretch, is not likely used.. since Pilar-Masbate City is rather more convenient?
Sir Mike, would it be okay to ask for your email address and contact number? I have several questions I hope you’d welcome to entertain…
My email address is ann.iska02@gmail.com. Thanks.
February 10th, 2012 at 11:59 pm
I’m having my family holiday in Iloilo next month and I haven’t finalize my itenerary as still I’m confused of some suggestions from friends. Can you please advice for me the shortest time possible fo the route as below. By the way I’m from Davao
1. CDO ~ Cebu ~ Negros ~ Iloilo
2. CDO ~ Dumaguete ~ Iloilo.
Thanks in advace.
February 11th, 2012 at 12:00 am
By the way I’m bringing my SUV I need Roro schedules and route if possible.
Thanks.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:17 pm
I am in Boracay now and I am planning to send my motorbike to Caticlan port via Ro-Ro in Batangas City port by nextweek. Can it be send unaccompanied? How much? May I know Ro-Ro schedules for nextweek Feb.20-26
February 13th, 2012 at 2:21 am
Sorry i was on travel. Hope this is not too late. Drive to Matnog, Sorsogon and take the ferry to Allen, Samar. Currently the route is via Catarman and Lope de Vega because of a bridge under repair north of Calbayog. From Allen, drive to Bato, Leyte (take the Mahaplag road) and take the ferry there to Ubay (it leaves breakfast time so don’t miss it). Minivan will cost you about P2,000 in Matnog and a little over that in Bato. Good luck.
February 13th, 2012 at 3:06 am
Sorry i was on travel. Hope this still helps. Probably the cheapest is to drive to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental and take 5am ferry to Benoni port. From there drive fast to Mambajao so you will be able to reach the 8am ferry to Jagna, Bohol. If you notice Super Shuttle Ferry personnel in Balingoan tell them to text their ship in Mambajao that you are coming. Not a sure way but it can help. Maybe it will be about P1,000 in Balingoan but it will be more than P3,000 in Mambajao.
Another and safer one from hitches is to drive to Lipata port, Surigao City and take the ferry to Benit, S. Ricardo, S. Leyte. From there drive to T. Oppus and take the mountain road to Bato (it’s safe even at night). The ferry there is breakfast time so don’t miss it. Ferry expense will almost be the same. You must be able to take the 10pm or 12mn ferry to Benit so as not to miss the Bato ferry. Just take note that ferry skeds during the lean season is less. So better be in Lipata at dinner time. Lipata is about 400kms from Davao City. Good luck.
February 13th, 2012 at 3:22 am
The route via Tacloban and Legazpi is sound as that is the main route. My only advice is take the Benit ferry in Liloan as it is cheaper. In Calbayog ask if Palnitan bridge is already passable. If not you have to go via Catarman. In Allen take the Balicuatro ferry. If Palnitan bridge is passable then take the ferry in S. Isidro. Queue there is shorter and queues can be long in summer. In Balicuatro there are “priority” vehicles which don’t follow the queue. There is a ferry in Dapdap, Allen but that is the least preferred. But it might be an alternative in summer.
A car just costs 2/3 of a SUV. If a car Liloan-Benit and Matnog-Allen will cost P2,000 average each, with Matnog a little lower.
Going back you can take the Batangas-Calapan-Roxas-Caticlan-Dumangas-Bacolod-Dumaguete-Dapitan-Ozamis-Mukas route. It will cost you about double in ferry charges. Don’t try the Lanao del Sur route unless you have a “visa” there. Just take the CDO route.
Only the driver is free so the four passengers will pay ferry fare.
February 13th, 2012 at 3:42 am
The first advice i can give you is not to use government data. It is full of dung and you will have a laughingstock of a research. The UAP made a research for ADB and we in Philippine Ship Spotters Society only laughed it out. You are welcome to our Flickr group. Just enrol as it is an open group. Just use Google. You will learn a lot from our discussion threads and we are full of knowledgeable members. My e-mail addr is mbb8356@yahoo.com. Monbusho? UP Eng’g?
Outright i can tell you this. There is no more Pilar-Aroroy RORO. There is also no more RORO in Cawayan. And Daanbantayan (which is Maya port) is not used by ROROs as it is not finished yet. What they use is Polambato port in Bogo City but its connection is Cataingan, Masbate. A lot of declared government info is incorrect or simply blah-blah.
And don’t think if there is a RORO then it loads container vans. Container van is not even the dominant mode. The intermodal truck is but only truckers, shippers and PSSS knows that (the government does not know that).
February 13th, 2012 at 4:31 am
1. CDO ~ Cebu ~ Negros ~ Iloilo
2. CDO ~ Dumaguete ~ Iloilo.
Both will cost you too much because of the long see crossing. More sea crossing also means more expenses. CDO- Dumaguete might is not an everyday crossing (prob. only 2x a week and 2GO rates are high.
From Davao just drive to CDO thence to Mukas, Kolambugan, Lanao Norte and take the ferry to Ozamis (just take note no ferry from 10pm to 4am). From Ozamis drive to Pulauan port, Dapitan and take ferry to Dumaguete. Ferry runs 24 hours. From Dumaguete drive to BREDCO port, Bacolod and take ferry to Dumangas, Iloilo. Ferry again runs 24 hours. It might be P2,500+ for each ferry crossing. Good luck.
February 13th, 2012 at 4:35 am
It can be sent unaccompanied as cargo. Contact Super Shuttle Ferry. Just use Google. Better if it has a shroud. Our country is full of hooligans. Hope no piece is stolen as that is the danger of an unaccompanied bike.
February 13th, 2012 at 4:36 am
This could be late already. Best route is like my answer to Cezar Comoda.
February 13th, 2012 at 4:39 am
Sorry this might be late. Am on trip and no alert from Admin. It is P4,000 and P9,000 empty.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:11 pm
February 24th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
I would like to ask for suggestions about my upcoming trip next week..
I am from Dipolog City and I’m going to Bohol next week.. I would like to ask kung saan ang mas favorable na trip in going to Bohol. Ang alam ko na way is via Plaridel or Cebu.. Saan ang mas cheaper?
Please send kung ano ang schedules.
Thanks a lot!
February 24th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
February 25th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
Thanks again.
February 28th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Is there currently a RORO connection from Cagayan de Oro to Jagna,Bohol? We are 3 in the family and are planning to bring our mitsubishi montero sport (SUV). We would like to get some information about this trip such as rates and schedule. Hope you can help. Thanks.
March 1st, 2012 at 9:17 am
Drive to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental and take 5am ferry to Benoni port. From there drive fast to Mambajao so you will be able to reach the 8am ferry to Jagna, Bohol. If you notice Super Shuttle Ferry personnel in Balingoan tell them to text their ship in Mambajao that you are coming. Not a sure way but it can help. Maybe it will be about P1,000 in Balingoan but it will be more than P3,000 in Mambajao.
March 1st, 2012 at 9:26 am
The ferry to Benit emanates from Lipata port and not the Verano port in Surigao City proper. Just past the Surigao integrated bus terminal there is a junction and the road going left goes to Lipata. There are direction signs.
In actuality there are no fixed year-round ferry skeds; it depends on the season. Right now there is a 7am ferry to Benit and the next will be early afternoon (about 2 pm) and the next will be evening (8-10pm).
There is no good lodging in Benit. The first decent lodging will be in Sogod, S. Leyte. It is safe to run even at night in Leyte island. Tacloban is a good stop-over in terms of lodging, eateries and convenience stores/groceries/malls.
Operation in Allen is 24 hours. Departures average about every 2 hours and could be 3-4 hours in lean hours like midnight to early morning.
March 1st, 2012 at 9:38 am
Hope this is not late. There is a Lite Ferry from Plaridel to Tagbilaran. This seems to be the sked:
http://www.boholtravelguide.com/dir/shipping/liteshipping.shtml
The other possible route is Dapitan to Samboan of Lite Ferry and from Samboan drive to Argao, Cebu and take the Lite Ferry to Loon, Bohol. There is a 6-7am Dapitan-Samboan ferry and another in the late afternoon or early evening. The Argao-Loon sked:
http://www.cebuboattrips.com/slow_ferries.htm#lite_shipping_corporation
Call Lite Shipping for rates. Their numbers are in the link above.
March 1st, 2012 at 9:42 am
Throw away to the garbage can that UAP-ADB study. It is just Gloria bola-bola in the guise of a study. It is completely erroneous.
RORO is cost-efficient for distances of less than 200kms? That is bunk.
There is no RORO study in the Philippines that have legs to stand on. Make the first one.
March 7th, 2012 at 3:30 am
March 7th, 2012 at 8:13 am
March 7th, 2012 at 10:03 am
March 7th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
Our family has planning to go to Bohol.where is the cheapest route from Butuan of Surigao City,and we have a van,how much is the cost in the barge.
Please I need your advise.
Thank you
March 7th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
The cheapest is to drive it to CDO via Sorsogon, Samar, Leyte, Surigao. You will probably need 115 liters for that assuming 10kms/liter. Ferry charge could be about P5,000 via Benit plus ferry fares for the passengers (driver is free).
If you really want to ship it via ferry then just take the Batangas-Masbate-Mandaue-CDO Super Shuttle RORO 3. It leaves Tue 3pm.
http://supershuttleferry.com/web/
March 7th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
The cheap bus is P500. Cheap aircon is about P750.
March 11th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
The Benit route is cheaper. It will be 1,360kms to Manila. Tacloban-Allen is 250kms. Benit-Tacloban is 190kms. Just take the Lipata ferry to Benit. 6am is the first sked (Montenegro leaves late if not full) and trips are roughly every 4 hours. Matnog to Manila is 600kms but here your average speed will be lower as overtaking skill comes into play. And maybe fatigue will set in.
There are also Lipata-Liloan ferries. Lipata port is different from Verano port in Surigao City. It goes left after Surigao integrated terminal and also after the airport some 7kms from the city proper.
In Balicuatro, Allen there are ferry departures and average gap is 2 hours. The are also ferries in S. Isidro which comes before that. Dapdap ferries are few. Those are the 3 ports in Samar for Matnog.
March 11th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Take the ferry in Lipata, Surigao City to Benit, S. Ricardo, S. Leyte and drive to Bontoc, S. Leyte. From there take the mountain road to Bato and take the ferry to Ubay, Bohol.
I am not sure i there is a night ferry there. What is sure is a Medallion ferry leaves between 7:30 and 8am. I am also not sure if Super Shuttle Ferry has a night trip from nearby Maasin to Ubay. Check with them: (032) 345-5581 or 09293646965.
The problem with a morning trip from Leyte is you have to drive at night in Leyte. The problem in arriving in Bohol at night is also driving at night and i am not sure if you are comfortable driving at night in an unfamiliar place.
Alternative is explained in post #288.
March 13th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Km 3, Dao, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
Phone Nos. 038-4123683 / 5019714 to: Legazpi City.
Which bus company serves Bohol and Legazpi City or Daraga, Albay? I believe there are buses from Visayas to Manila thru Daraga, Albay (South Road). Does Philtranco serve this route? Your help is appreciated. My text is 0917 755 1401 globe. thanks
March 15th, 2012 at 2:06 am
March 17th, 2012 at 12:12 am
Best route to Bohol is Manila-Matnog-Allen, Samar-Tacloban-Bato,Leyte-Ubay, Bohol.
There is no Manila-Caticlan route unless what 2GO Travel said is trute that they will run a Manila-Batangas-Caticlan route. But i doubt if it is true right now esp since one of their ships had a minor fire and is in the shipyard.
You have to drive to Batangas to take a Caticlan ferry. 2GO Travel has a direct route. Just go check their website. Romblon Shipping has also a route but that passes thru Odiongan. Their website:
http://www.romblonshippinglines.com/
Of course you can also choose to go via Calapan and Roxas from Batangas to Caticlan. More tiresome but cheaper. There are more voyages too and it is round the clock.
March 17th, 2012 at 12:18 am
The buses with consistent routes to Tagbilaran is Mega Bus and Silver Star. You can ask the supplier to load it in Tagbilaran for Kimantong, Daraga. Get the bus company, bus number, names of the drivers and their contact numbers so you can follow them up. Also ask the approximate time they will pass by Kimantong. You are lucky as it will be about just before lunch. Harder at night.
March 17th, 2012 at 2:07 am
March 17th, 2012 at 2:09 am
March 17th, 2012 at 8:48 am
I would suggest end of first leg is Legazpi. There are enough choices and people comforts. Legazpi is 5kms beyond the Kimantong junction that leads to Sorsogon. If you leave Manila morning you can have dinner in Legazpi. Better if you start earlier there will still be enough light for some sightseeing.
Alternative end of first leg is Sorsogon City.
Next stop could be Tacloban City. There is also enough choices and people comforts. Alternative will be Sogod, S. Leyte.
Your next stop will already be CDO.
Total land kilometers will be 1,320 if via Liloan and 1,280 if via Benit. RORO cost will be about P6,000. Driver is free but passengers pay ferry fare. That is about P400/person.
The starting rate for aircon room is P600 but that is budget class. Expect P800-1200/night.
March 18th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
March 19th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
March 19th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
is there a direct RORO from Cebu to sorsogon?, or via cebu to masbate, then masbate to cebu? at kung may dala sasakyan mga ilang oras po ang byahe? THANKS PO
March 19th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
March 20th, 2012 at 8:40 am
March 20th, 2012 at 9:57 am
No direct Cebu-Sorsogon RORO. Normal route is Bogo-Cataingan then drive to Masbate City then take the Masbate-Pilar RORO.
Since sea voyages in that route is longer and more expensive the alternative is the Bogo-Palompon ferry then drive to Allen, Samar and take the Allen-Matnog ferry.
March 25th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
March 31st, 2012 at 12:03 pm
I am planning for a trip with my family to Bohol this coming April 30.Please give me some info about ferry schedule and fares from Matnog to Allen and Bato tO Ubay and vice versa .I will be bringing my SUV how much its cost.This is my first time to travel on this route.Hoping for your reply at the soonest..Thanks and Best regards,
RBB2
April 1st, 2012 at 1:03 am
Speaking of daily crossings there are two possible routes and both are equal in merit (and complication). One is to drive to Balingoan, Misamis Or. and take the ferry to Camiguin and drive fast to Mambajao to take the 8am ferry there to Jagna. For this to materialize you have to take the first ferry in Balingoan at about 5am (and better tell any Super Shuttle Ferry people you are taking their ferry in Mambajao).
The second option is to drive to Lipata port in Surigao. I am not sure if the posted 7:30pm Maasin-Ubay ferry is correct (please contact them: http://supershuttleferry.com/web/ticket-outlets/). Because the other ferry is a 7am Medallion Transport ferry in Bato going to Ubay too. But for you to reach this means you might have to drive during the night or take lodging somewhere. The old schedule of Super Shuttle Ferry i know is 7:30am.
Cost will depend on the kind of vehicle. SUVs cost more than a car. If it is a sedan then it could be around P6,000-7,000 in either of the two routes (sorry i am not too current as there were increases in rates this year). The driver is free.
If you want less hassle you can also take the CDO-Tagbilaran Trans-Asia ship which leaves Tu-Th-Sa 7pm (take note there is no Maundy Thursday sailing). You can try their website for queries.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:13 am
You can come any time to Matnog as there are ferry sailings 24 hours with 1-3 hours gap in departures. Just take note that 10pm to 3am is peak hours and buses are the priority in those hours (though you might be lucky with a Grandtar RORO with weak patronage).
The Bato-Ubay ferry is 7am. There might be a 7:30pm Super Shuttle Ferry in Maasin (to Ubay) but please verify first with their website as this could be another option.
Total charge for the SUV for the two crossings could be around P6,000 or so.
April 3rd, 2012 at 7:37 am
April 3rd, 2012 at 6:25 pm
Possible to take the PSEI bus in Kimantong but you will wait during unholy hours, PSEI is the most expensive (they charge full rates and ferry is not free) and it might even be full coz it is peak season and you are 5 in all and you might stand all the way to Tacloban which is 10-12hrs away.[As additional info take note that PP Bus has also trips on the same route.]
Buses going to Vismin passes Kimantong starting 9:30pm. 90% of those buses incl those with Special Permits will pass thru Tacloban. Any Tacloban bus that will take you, seat you is good (so you don’t have to wait long). Coz from Tacloban terminal you can just transfer to another bus (and there are many). Manila buses are better and preferable than the slow local bus. There are also vans and all of those are in Tacloban common terminal.
From Tacloban the best ride is Benit/San Ricardo (alternate is Liloan). From that port just ride any Montenegro ferry to Lipata, Surigao City. From there you can hitch with any Bachelor bus from the ferry terminal and get off Surigao integrated terminal. There are Multicabs there to the city. Good luck.
April 7th, 2012 at 1:42 am
thanks!
ed
April 8th, 2012 at 9:59 am
please help us.. we are planning to go to boracay on the 22nd, we are from general santos city.. can you give us the easiest way? we are going by land using a toyota grandia.. can you also give us the roro schedules and fares? thank you..
April 8th, 2012 at 10:02 am
April 9th, 2012 at 2:16 am
I will just have a combined answer as route is about the same. There is a Cagayan-Iloilo RORO, the 2GO Travel which is the merger of Negros Navigation and SuperFerry. You can check their website via Google and it has a quotation function. Try also if they have a Dapitan-Iloilo voyage as that could be cheaper. 2GO and Trans Shipping have ROROs from CDO to Cebu and both their websites are searchable. 2GO also has a RORO from GSC to Iloilo.
The alternative route is to drive to Dapitan to take the ferry to Dumaguete. That will pass thru the ferry in Mukas, Tubod, Lanao del Norte to Ozamis (Daima Shpg has trip from dawn to midnight). Dapitan ferries run 24 hours w/ 3-4 hour gaps in most hours and it peaks from late afternoon.
From Dumaguete drive to Bacolod to take the ferry to Dumangas. There are trips round the clock w/ 2-4 hours interval. From Dumangas one can drive to Iloilo or Caticlan.
RORO rate depends on the size of the vehicle. A Grandia could cost 50% more than a sedan. It is about P300 for a sedan in Mukas and about P3,000 in Dumaguete and about the same amount in Bacolod. Land kilometers to Iloilo is about 850 from Davao and more than 900 from GSC.
April 15th, 2012 at 3:57 am
April 15th, 2012 at 7:56 am
Are you bringing a car? For you to reach Hinundayan early evening you must have a relative fast Davao-Surigao drive of 9 hours. Seems there’s a ferry at 1:30 for Liloan and a 2pm ferry for Benit. The Benit ferry will get you to Hinundayan faster and cheaper, if you have your own car.
April 22nd, 2012 at 5:20 pm
April 23rd, 2012 at 12:13 am
April 23rd, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Thanks for the tips you gave us. we are now back in davao after 18 days of travel from davao-manila via lipata-benit and allen-matnog roros, then back thru batangas-mindoro-caticlan-iloilo-bacolod-dumaguete-dapitan-mukas-cdo and all the way by land. we had a wonderful travel after thoughts of cancelling it because of the increment weather before we took off. pictures are now posted in our fb accounts and I could share them if asked. our sportivo did it well and guidance from the almighty was superb after that “almost” head-on in a very sharp curve on the way to allen. Thanks again.
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:34 pm
April 24th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
There is only one way to Lipata and that is take the highway to Butuan (the bus route of Bachelor Express). Upon reaching Ampayon junction (which is 8 kms from Butuan) turn right instead of left and that will be the highway to Surigao. Take note of Surigao bus terminal which is 7 kms from Surigao City proper (it is on the right side of the highway after the checkpoint). Seeing that you are about half a kilometer from the junction to Lipata port. From that junction it is 14kms to the port.
Rate of car going to Liloan is P3,500. Rate to Benit is about nearly P1,000 cheaper. I suggest you take the 2pm Montenegro ferry to Benit. You have to leave Davao at dawn.
April 24th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Matnog to Allen or S. Isidro will be a little over P1,000. Driver is free but passengers fare is P120. Adventure and L300 is roughly the same.
Benit, S. Ricardo to Lipata will be about P3,000. Fare there fluctuates. Peak fare is P210 per person. Again the driver is free.
April 24th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Welcome and thanks for the feedback. Hope you can share your pictures in our group, the Philippine Ship Spotters Society.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/psss/
April 24th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Hi can i ask u how much the cost on your SUV and fare per person on roro lipata to benit san recardo and allen to matnog bcuz i need some info. we planned to land trip this week please reply me if u have time thank you…
April 29th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Thanks!
April 30th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
I’m from Melbourne,Australia . I have a friend who is a long- time Manila resident (some 35 years) and we are planning a RORO trip through the VIsayas near the end of May for 3 , maybe 4 weeks. he has a 4WD.
The rough plan at the moment is
Manila to Matnog ( probably taking 3 days so as to sightsee)
Matnog to Allen and on through Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Negros (probably the most time) ,Panay, Mindoro, Manila.
I’ve spent a lot of time on the Internet but am confused about which Ferry company schedules to check and how to get an idea of costs. I also noticed you have made comments about road conditions and which ones to be careful of (bridges perhaps not open and so on).
The RORO voyages we are thinking of are:
Matnog … Allen
Palempon … Bogo
Santander … Sibulan
Bacolod …Iloilo
Catican …Roxas
Calapan … Batangas
We want to budget our spending so if you can give us an idea of ferry costs for a 4WD Pajero and a driver and one passenger ( or give websites whe we can do it ourselves) we would be very thankful.
Also any comments you have on roads and accommodation.
We are aged 66 and 69 but in good health and have travelled through Luzon by car many times over the last 30 years.
I do hope you have the time to pass on some of your knowledge.
Please let me know.
Thank you.
Cheers ,
Bob
Would you mind giving me some advice?
May 1st, 2012 at 7:06 am
Trans-Asia has a daily Cebu-Cagayan de Oro RORO. Super Shuttle Ferry has a Wed and Fri Mandaue-Cagayan de Oro voyages. Both have a website and just Google their company names. That direct route has the least hassle. Otherwise you have to go thru Bohol and Camiguin. Another possible option for comparison is Cokaliong Shipping Line which has a route to Iligan which is 87kms west of Cagayan de Oro. just Google their website.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:03 am
May 3rd, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Manila-Matnog has some portions needing repair in the Quirino/Andaya highway and some repairs in the Atimonan section. From Matnog there are 3 entry ports in Samar: Balicuatro (Sta.Clara Shpg, Penafrancia Shpg, 168 Shipping), Dapdap (Philharbor Ferries) and S. Isidro (Montenegro Shpg). They are just adjacent. Ferries run 24hrs. Avoid the 11pm-7am coz that is the loading time of the priority buses/trucks. Expect about P1,500. Fare is P120 but driver is free.
Except for some cracks, road from Allen/S.Isidro to Palompon is good. There is only a 12nn Super Shuttle Ferry in Palompon. Cargo rate is about P2,500, fare/fee P300, driver is free.
If you miss that there is a 2pm Melrivic ferry in nearby Pinagag port in Isabel to Danao City. Rates are about the same. If you miss that go to Ormoc City. There is 11pm Super Shuttle Ferry in GGC port to Mandaue. In Ormoc port Lite Ferries have 10pm ferry to Cebu City (exc. Fri). Roble Shipping also has a daily 10am ferry to Cebu City. Rates here are higher. Fare is P400. Driver free.
http://supershuttleferry.com/web/ticket-outlets/
http://www.lite-shipping.com/
Crossing from southern Cebu to Negros you have choices:
1. Bato (Samboan) to Tampi (Amlan): Maayo Shipping
2. Bato (Samboan) to Sibulan: Lite Ferries
3. Mainit (Oslob) to Dumaguete : Super Shuttle Ferry (3pm)
4. Mainit (Oslob) to Sibulan: Tanjuan Shpg
http://www.cebuboattrips.com/slow_ferries.htm
I will stop here and will make a second part. i lost my first attempt to answer you. Maybe it was too long.
May 3rd, 2012 at 6:33 pm
The RORO crossing from Bacolod (BREDCO port) is to Dumangas and not Iloilo City. Dumangas is 24kms NE of the city. Ferries run 24hrs. The operators are Tristar Megalink, Montenegro Shpg, Millennium Shpg, Jomalia Shpg. Schedules and contact numbers:
http://www.visayandailystar.com/eguide/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=45&layout=blog&Itemid=72
http://www.exploreiloilo.com/iloilo-sea-boat-trip-and-roro-schedules
RORO sails to Dumangas and not Iloilo City. The sites and info could be dated. But my RORO list is complete.
In Caticlan-Roxas, ROROs sail 24hrs too. Operators are Montenegro Shpg, Starlite Ferries, Philharbor Ferries, Navios Lines.
http://montenegrolines.com.ph/msli_web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=111&Itemid=9
There is now a direct Caticlan-Batangas RORO by 2GO.
http://www.2go.com.ph/
In Calapan-Batangas ROROs sail 24hrs too. Operators are Montenegro Shpg, Starlite Ferries, Super Shuttle Ferry, Besta Shpg, Philharbor Ferries.
http://montenegrolines.com.ph/msli_web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=92&Itemid=9
http://supershuttleferry.com/web/ticket-outlets/
Take note some of the published rates could be dated as some shipping companies raised their rates just this year. Better to call for confirmation.
Except for some minor repairs the roads are generally ok and travel is safe even at night (but easier to miss road signs too).
Good luck!
May 4th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Thank you!
What a lot of detail you have provided!
We now feel confident that we can make it there and back.
I will update you when we return.
Cheers,
Bob
May 5th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
I forgot Super Shuttle Ferry also has a Caticlan-Roxas route. And in the routes i said ferries run 24 hours the departures are just 1, 2 or 3 hours apart. So that means when you go to the port a ferry is always loading (sometimes simultaneously) and will leave soon. You just ask which ferries are loading. Usually the ticket windows are just adjacent each other and those not loading shutter temporarily their windows.
A problem is our ports are the “fixers” and hustlers. Don’t mind them. You can do it on your own. You will need the registration papers of the vehicle when transacting. For the vehicle you will have to pay the ff:
a) rolling cargo charge to the shipping company
b) wharfage fee to PPA (Philippine Ports Authority)
c) terminal fee to PPA (driver is not exempted)
c) arrastre fee
And the passenger will pay fare to the shipping company
The ticketing windows are generally adjacent each other and there are directional signs. Sometimes the municipal government will try to charge some kind of local tax. That has long been declared illegal by the Supreme Court and the national government suspended those but unfortunately laws here are not well-enforced. If you choose to ignore them they can’t do anything anyway. Just a warning lest you be surprised. This is not meant as a discouragement.
I wish you can share us photos and feedback/updates to our group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/psss/
May 6th, 2012 at 7:48 am
May 13th, 2012 at 11:11 pm