Marcos Unveils Pier 88: A Game-Changing Smart Port to Revolutionize Travel in Cebu

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the grand launch of a private-sector-led Pier 88 in the town of Liloan, Cebu last May 27 — a project aimed at easing travel time for those going to and coming from the northern portions of the Metro Cebu area.

The 3-hectare mixed land use Port will primarily serve as an alternative access point from Cebu mainland to the Camotes Group of Islands as well as to neighboring Leyte Province.

Conceptualized eight years ago when Cebu Fifth District Rep. Duke Frasco was still the mayor of Liloan, this public-private partnership project will feature trendy establishments and restaurants, making it the first “smart port” terminal in Cebu.

Recently, it has also started serving as a Ro-ro port for the newly opened bus route from the Cebu North Bus Terminal to different towns in the Camotes Islands.

Topline Group of Companies CEO Erik Lim said that Pier 88 will also be serving soon a “Seabus” service which will take commuters from Liloan and other northern towns direct to Mactan Island where the factories of the Mactan Export Processing Zone and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport are located.

The Topline Seabus will function like a regular bus but with a larger capacity, cutting the trip time from Liloan to Mactan from one hour to just 30 minutes. It will bypass the national highway by utilizing the Mactan Channel as a marine highway.

In his speech, President Marcos applauded the partnership between the local government and the private sector in creating Pier 88. He said this will form part of the administration’s thrust to ease connectivity and promote further tourism.

The new P1-billion port is a three-phase Port and Commercial Development project developed by the Topline Group of Companies in partnership with Pier 88 Ventures, Incorporated.

Pier88 offers a range of facilities and services, including Ramps for berthing, Mooring Dolphins, Pedestrian Bollards, Pier Bridge and Deck, Truck Weighing Scale, Storage, Cargo Handling, Trucking, Arrastre, Porterate, Stevedoring, Leisure and Island Hopping terminal, Shuttle, and Banking Services.

It also has commercial building with solar panels as a way of promoting sustainable energy.

Pier 88 will also have a Smart Port System, the first of its kind in Cebu. It features an Automated Ticketing System with new technology to be installed later to further enhance the commuting experience.

Construction of Pier 88 began on March 22, 2019. It also has a causeway which was inaugurated last October 24, 2021.

The port management said that Pier 88 is envisioned to make Liloan an economic gateway and provide economic boost to its neighbors like the Municipality of Compostela, Danao City and the rest of Northern portion of Cebu Province.

“Pursuing this dream and having committed to implementing this port project for eight years now, it is with heartfelt gratitude and joy to be in the final stages of completing this groundbreaking development for our beloved Liloan and the 5th District of Cebu,” said Rep. Frasco in his Facebook post.

Aside from President Marcos, in attendance are Vice President Sara Duterte, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista,

Local officials during the event are led by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan.