Barge Fees for Hyundai Grand Starex

Time and again, we go on roadtrips from Luzon to Mindanao and when friends know of these trips they almost always ask us how much we spent for barge fees.  So, i am posting in here the fees we paid last December 2012 when we used the Hyundai Grand Starex.  

We opted to go through Bicol - Samar-  Surigao Nautical Highway since it is much cheaper compared with the Batangas route.  It only involves 2 ferry boat rides from Matnog, Sorsogon To Allen, Samar and from San Ricardo, Southern Leyte to Surigao City.

Montenegro Lines fares is Php 2,100 for the Grand Starex. Roro Port terminal fee at Lipata Port, Surigao is Php 129.00 while terminal fee for passengers is Php 16.00 per person. Regular fare per person is Php 140.00 while children are at half-fare at Php 70.00

Things to do while at Lipata port: Driver does the ff;

1.  Secures a Gate Booking Slip at PCBSI Gate Office.

2.  Pays Waybill at Shipping Lines Counter

3.  With SG signal, proceeds to Lane Meter area or to the weighing bridge for weighing for type 3 and type 4 roro vehicles.

4.  Proceeds to the parking area.

5.  Proceeds to the PPA RRTF Counter.

6.  Proceeds to PICO Counter (for plant/animal products)

7.  Proceeds to the Marshalling area( one hour before etd)

8.  Coordinates with Marshalls / vessels representatives.

9.  Proceeds to the vessel ramp.

Processing time should only take 10 minutes so beware of fixers.

Hello Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao

I have been neglecting these blog for several days now primarily because I have been busy with a lot of things lately.  I only have time to update this blog at night and since the husband arrived last October 29, we went on a road trip to Mindanao on the same day.  Anyway, what's new with this trip is that we took the Batangas - Mindoro - Roxas - Aklan - Dumaguete -Dipolog - Ozamis - Iligan - Zamboanga, Sibugay Route.  Lots of experiences to share so, i'll perhaps show you some of the roads we traversed and friend's houses we visited along the way.

This one is at Maninoy Tannie and Maninay Tessie's residence in Butuan City where we had dinner.

 This one was at Lipata Port, Surigao City on our way back already.

 The ever beautiful San Juanico Bridge.  I love bridges and all it represents. And if you ever want to study and get to know lots of bridges, the islands of Samar and Leyte are the best places to go to.  Somehow it just saddens me that the Maharlika Highway that used to be a flagship project of the government under GMA showed signs of neglect. National highway particularly from Surigao to Cagayan de Oro, as well as Quirino Highway in Luzon were terrible for roadies like us.

 In contrast, we never expected the national roads from Kapatagan passing through the interior municipalities of Sultan Naga Dimaporo and Tukuran of Lanao del Norte to be really well. We are simply awed that we have been going to Zamboanga from Iligan City and just discovered this now.

 I think this is Tukuran Port.

That's it for now.