Davao-Lupon fastcraft set for maiden voyage

IF SCHEDULES permit, the 2009 Caracoles Festival will feature the maiden voyage of the 150-seater fastcraft that will service the Santa Ana wharf to Lupon route.

According to Araceli Ayuste, Caracoles festival chair, she was able to talk last week to Dante Sipalo, the franchisee of the Fastcraft service, who is a Lupon-born and Manila-based businessman.

Sipalo has informed her that the fastcraft has just left its shipyard in Japan en route to Cebu for defouling and could possibly be in Davao during the Caracoles.

Ayuste hopes that the ship will be in Davao, in time for the Caracoles festival, which is a regional event that celebrates the beauty and the bounty of Davao Gulf. It is the culminating event of the Dive the Gulf festival and will highlight a sundown-to-sunrise party to be held at the Santa Ana wharf.

Ayuste expressed hopes they can promote the fastcraft in the festival. The sea-borne transportation hopes to entice commuters who wish to avail of a much faster one-hour trip to Lupon, which normally takes two hours by bus. Fastcraft fare is three hundred pesos for every trip.

She also said that there are actually two fastcrafts: the bigger fastcraft will be the one utilized for public utility transport while the smaller craft will be available for chartered tours. The fastcraft service, she said, can help in tapping the tourist potentials of Davao Gulf. (PIA)

The Fastest Way to Lupon from Davao City

The fastest way to go to Lupon (Davao Oriental) from Davao City and vice versa is by travelling through a fastcraft ferry.

The schedule of daily trips will soon be posted. The company intends to use e-ticketing for faster ticket reservation and booking as well as preparing for other things beneficial for the riding public. The estimated travel time of the boat will be 1 hour and 12 minutes non-stop. There is also a plan of accepting small cargoes.

While the company is still finalizing the daily trips schedule of the vessel, the customers/passengers feedbacks on their preferred time of travel from Lupon to Davao and vice versa is most welcome and appreciated. Please e-mail to danspenta@yahoo.com or contact 09175331723, 09189298777 for more information.