Northern Cebu’s New Port Is a Gateway to Bantayan Island

Medellin, a northern town in Cebu, is working on various construction projects that will attract more travelers and boost its economic potential this year. One of the projects that were recently completed by the Municipal Government of Medellin is the seaport in Kawit. The seaport, which cost PhP47 million to build, is going to be a gateway to Bantayan Island and other destinations like Masbate and Biliran.

The new port will soon be announcing its schedule of boat trips to Sta. Fe Bantayan Island. The travel time from the Medellin Port to the island is approximately 40 minutes with a starting fare of PhP200 per person. With Medellin Port as a new gateway to Bantayan Island, there are now two major routes from mainland Cebu to the popular tourist destination.

Construction began in the third quarter of 2020. Before the opening of the port, the Visayas Primary Healthcare Services, Inc. (VPHCS) organized a training program last November 2020 to prepare its seaport personnel. The training was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on COVID-19 response to avoid risks of any virus transmission among travelers and seaport staff. The training program consisted of a series of discussions about infection prevention and control, inbound and outbound passenger control, and the implementation of basic travel protocols.

Twenty-two participants were present for the training, including four members of the Philippine Coast Guard in the Kawit Sub-station, eight Medellin government employees, eight Bantay Dagat members, and two Barangay guards.

For the past years, the town of Medellin relied on agriculture as its economic source. Now, the town is venturing to become one of the economic and industrial zones in Cebu with its two ports—Medellin Kawit Seaport and a new airport which is still in the works.

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