Aerial view of Iloilo Strait, taken on-board a commercial aircraft.
ILOILO CITY
Widely called “Syudad sang Iloilo”in hiligaynon dialect, these historical city is located in the south coast of Panay Island- in the western visayas region and is the main entry point of the Province of Iloilo.The city lies on a flat alluvial plain, reclaimed mostly from the swampy areas due to urbanization and industrialization in the late 19th century up to this day. Traversing the city are the rivers of Iloilo, Batiano, Jaro and Dungon Creek; iloilo river in particular is an estuary that separates the districts of Molo, Villa Arevalo and the rest of the city proper. On the other hand, Jaro river is fed by its tributary the Aganan, and Tigum passing-by the flood plains of the Jaro, and La Paz districts. The city is 337.6 nautical miles south of the nation’s capital, Manila. (1)
In 17th century, during early Spanish colonial period, the spaniards moved their seat of power to the village of Irong-Irong due to recurrent raids by the Dutch privateers and the moro pirates. With its natural advantage (as compared to their former settlement in Ogtong now named Oton) the Spaniards later built Fort San Pedro to better guard against moro raids, which were the major threats to the settlement. Fondly called “Irong-Irong or Ilong-Ilong”, meaning “nose-like” shape if viewed from above (see the image above for better visualization), the river’s old name was shortened to Iloilo, and later on became the capital of the province in 1673- converted to a city in 1890.
In 1900, during American colonial period, the commonwealth government returned the city’s status into a township again, but because of its continuous commercial activities (during the development of sugar industry in Iloilo and its neighboring island of Negros); and being an important port of call in the Visayas-Mindanao area, iloilo regained its city status on July 16, 1937 through Commonwealth Act 158. (2)
PORT OF ENTRY: Ports of Iloilo
There are five (5) ports of entry/exit in Iloilo. One is Port of San Pedro, the largest port in Panay Island in terms of land area and the ability to handle thousands of passengers and cargoes annually. Another is La Paz wharf, wherein a new passenger terminal building is being constructed, and soon to operate within a year; Ortiz or Parola wharf, home of the many outrigger boats going to the Island of Guimaras, is as important as the aforementioned; and the last is the famed Muelle Loney wharf. These mentioned ports serves passenger and cargo vessel that plies within the ports near Iloilo City, some vessel plies far to Bacolod City, others to Cebu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, and Manila.
The last but certaily not the least is the Port of Dumangas, located in the town of Dumangas- approximately 29 kilometers east of the city, and is considered important part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH).
ILOILO DOMESTIC PORT (formerly the old foreign pier)
Port of Iloilo Passenger Terminal
The Iloilo Domestic Port or popularly known as ” Port San Pedro”, serves numerous inter-island passenger and cargo vessel which plies the routes between Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Zamboanga, and Cagayan de Oro. It’s geographic location is in-between:
10° 49′ 56.7″ N Latitude, and 122° 29′ 35.2″ E Longitude
Port San Pedro is considered one of the safest harbors because of Guimaras Island, that perfectly covers, and protects the harbor from strong winds. Beside the Port of Iloilo is the Fort San Pedro, a historical landmark at the entrance of Iloilo Harbor built in 1616 to resist the invasion of pirates.
Port San Pedro is the port of call for several domestic shipping companies such as 2GO Travel, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, among others. The vernacular name “Fort San Pedro” refers to the old Spanish fort adjacent to the port premises that was destroyed during World War II. (3)
There are weekly RORO/Ferry boat trips to Iloilo City to and from South Harbor in Manila (18 hours sailing time), Zamboanga City(14 hours sailing time), and Cebu City (12 hours sailing time).
M/V St. Francis Xavier
Note: Click on the link provided for updated schedule and other relevant information.
LAPUZ DISTRICT
Iloilo City’s newest ferry terminal
Roll-on/Roll-off ferry services are catered here in Iloilo City RORO Terminal in Lapuz, across the famed Muelle Loney a few minutes by public transport. A plan by Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), together with the local government to develop the site that was once used as shipyard at Barangay Progreso, Lapuz. The said location will soon be transformed into a modern ferry terminal that will cater to fast crafts and passengers plying the Iloilo-Bacolod route and vice versa as well as roll on-roll off vessels. (4)
There are three shipping companies’ serves here that ferries passenger and cargo to Guimaras Island, Cuyo Island and Puerto Princesa both in Palawan. This are;
Montenegro Shipping Lines
Iloilo to Cuyo-Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Every Wednesday and Saturday at 8:00 AM
Milagrosa Shipping Lines
Iloilo to Cuyo Island-Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Every Monday and Thursday at 7 pm
F.F. Cruz Shipping Corporation
Bgy. Lapuz Norte, La Paz, Iloilo City
(033) 3371046 / 3369329 / 3364195
Name of Vessel: M/V Felipe
Daily Schedule:
To Jordan Port, San Jose (Brgy. Hoskyn)
Morning Departure – 7:30 and 9:30
Afternoon Departure – 2:00 and 4:00
To RORO Port in Lapuz, Iloilo City
Morning Departure – 8:30 and 10:30
Afternoon Departure – 3:00 and 5:30
copyright: mcgutib
Archipelago Philippines Ferrries Corporation
Iloilo Departure: Every 8 AM and 2 pm
Bacolod (Banago Port) Departure: 11 AM and 5 PM
Fare (Economy): Php 200
Note: Schedules are subject to change, you may call the numbers provided above for more information.
MUELLE LONEY
It is the original Port in Iloilo City, similar to that of Muelle de la Industria (The old port during Spanish times) located at the bank of Pasig river in Manila. Muelle Loney is opened to international trade on 1855, it served as the trans-shipment docks for muscovado sugar in the late 19th to the first half of the 20th century. The river has undergone expansion and improvement several times for the past years, and this include dredging the river basin, to massive clean-up drive, and lately relocating the berthing of small craft, batels, fishing boat, coast guard patrol boats, and other boats that pestered the river ways away from the Aduana building.
Muelle Loney, located in the west side of Iloilo river was named after the Englishman Nicolas Loney, the “Father of the Sugar Industry”. Muelle Loney opened to foreign trade in 1855 that faved way to sugar boom in this province that once called the “Queen City of the South”. The Nicholas Loney monument was erected in his honor as he was the “Paladin of Philippine Progress.” (5)
There are three shipping companies that operates high speed monohaul/catamaran vessel here, and each company has passenger terminal in Muelle Loney. Fast crafts from Bacolod City to Iloilo City vice versa takes around 60 minutes minimum, depending on a vessel and the weather.
Shipping Company that operates here are:
Note: Click on the link provided for updated schedule and other relevant information.
ILOILO TO GUIMARAS WHARF (Banca wharf)
Iloilo City is the gateway to the captivating island province of Guimaras, just 20-30 minutes away via outrigger motorboat from Parola and Ortiz Wharf.
Jetty ports for Guimaras bound passenger are located at Calle Ortiz, Iloilo City and BAMODA Terminal near Parola (a lighthouse near the opening or mouth of the river). The terminal at Calle Ortiz served Jordan Wharf (Brgy. Rizal) bound passenger and cargoes. (6)
Banca Trips:
– Daily Trips from 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM (every 15-30 minutes)
– Travel Time = 20 minutes minimum
From BAMODA (Buenavista Motorbanca Owners Association Inc.) just near Parola, Iloilo City to Mc Arthur’s wharf (built by Gen. Douglas Mc Arthur in 1903 when he was the head of the company of the US Army Corps of Engineers) located in Sto. Rosario, Buenavista vice versa:
– Daily Trips from 5:30 AM – 6:00 PM (every 15-30 minutes)
– Travel Time = 15-20 minutes
DUMANGAS RORO PORT
Dumangas (formerly called the town of Araut) is claimed to be the landing place of the Spaniards in Panay. Dumangas is located at the Southeastern part of Panay and lies at 122 degrees 42′ 34″ longitude, and 10 degrees 39′ 22″ latitude. Barotac Nuevo bounds it in the north, Guimaras Strait is in the southeast boundary of Dumangas, and at the west is the Municipalities of Pototan and Zarraga. (7)
Dumangas is a coastal town about 29 kilometers away from Iloilo City and is accessible via public transportation such as Jeepney and L-300 vans stationed at Baldoza Terminal in La Paz (daily trips start at around 8 am until 5 in the afternoon).
The coastal road network from Dumangas Port to Iloilo City vice versa, which is still under construction will shortened the land travel in between these two ports.
Dumangas port is located in Sitio Nalu-oyan, in Barangay Sapao some four kilometers away from the town proper. A three-wheeled motorcycle can take you to the port for 25 Php, but beware because the road is unpaved all the way, making it dusty during summer and muddy during rainy season. The Port complex has a total land area of around 7.0 hectares. The construction of this port was made possible thru the development assistance made by the government of Japan at a cost of 60 Million pesos.
Dumangas to Bacolod route at present has four (4) shipping companies that operates RORO vessel, this are:
Millenium Shipping
Tristar-Megalink Corp.
Jomalia Shipping
Crossing the Iloilo Strait bound for Bredco Port in Bacolod City or vice versa takes approximately 2 hours at a cost of 60 Php per person per trip. For travelers, backpackers, and motorist who wish to leave for Dumangas or Bacolod, the vessel departure/arrival is almost every hour or two depending on passenger and rolling cargo traffic. The trip for both ways starts usually early in the morning until late evening.
For updated RORO sched, please click on the link provided: 2015 RORO Schedules
Refferences (Please click on the link):1. Socio-Economic Profile 2004 of Iloilo City, The City Government of Iloilo, 2004
7. Dumangas
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