Domestic and foreign tourists can now take a bus ride to experience the “unexploited” beaches of Camotes Islands via the newly launched Roll-on, Roll-off port in Liloan, north of Cebu, a transport official said on Monday.

Eduardo Montealto Jr., Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Central Visayas regional director, said five units of Ceres Liner are now serving the Cebu mainland-Camotes route with the operational status of the private sector-led Pier 88.

The bus travel started Sunday, a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez attended the launch of the pier located at Barangay Poblacion.

According to Montealto, the first five units allowed to ply the Camotes route under a provisional permit is part of a “study” that will back the adoption of the Local Public Transport Rationalization Plan (LPTRP) crafted by the provincial government of Cebu.

“This idea of Governor (Gwendolyn) Garcia blazes the trail of a greater concept of providing a safe and convenient travel of tourists,” Montealto told the Philippine News Agency.

He cited the collaboration between the Department of Transportation and LTFRB with the Department of Tourism under Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco in the effort to set up travel lines at potential tourism destinations in Visayas and Mindanao.

The daily bus ride to Camotes Island at the North Bus Terminal in Subangdaku, Mandaue City will be at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. every day, and vice versa.

“Our study shows that backpackers would prefer commuting their way to their destinations. These five units of buses will allow them to do sight-seeing while traveling to the island,” Montealto said.

In his speech, Marcos underscored the private port’s significance in bolstering economic and tourism activity on Camotes Island.

The port is managed by Topline Group of Companies. (PNA)