Manila: Technical staff members from 2GO Travel have begun their survey and assessment at the Jubang International Port in Dapa, Siargao Island, as part of preparations for launching a new Manila-Siargao route. 'They will determine the length of the port and its depth. They are also bringing divers to the port to help complete their survey,' Janis Medina Reginio, provincial information officer of Surigao del Norte, said in an interview on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the PHP620.6-million international port in Barangay Jubang is one of the major port projects of the Department of Transportation, implemented through the Philippine Ports Authority, and is currently over 70 percent complete. The port is built to accommodate visiting cruise ships and is part of broader efforts to boost tourism in Siargao Island and the entire Surigao del Norte.

On Wednesday, representatives from 2GO Travel paid a courtesy call to Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers and discussed the opening of the route. 'This route will not only move people, it aims to connect communities, promote economic activity, and support sustainable tourism,' Barbers said in a statement on Thursday. The new route is also a significant step in building a stronger and more accessible Siargao Island, he added.

'This is not only for the tourism sector but for Surigao residents who dreamed of easier, affordable, and meaningful travel connections between Manila and our island paradise,' he said.