Two hundred free seats will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis for Antiqueños coming home from Metro Manila who will take the Roll-On, Roll-Off (RoRo) vessel on March 2 and 4.

Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, in an interview on Tuesday, said Starlite vessel hopefully could push through with its maiden trip on March 2 so that Antiqueños wanting to come home could avail of the free tickets.

The maiden voyage was earlier set on Feb. 2 but failed to push through due to the delay in the printing of passenger tickets.

“Starlite will be providing for its first trip 100 free tickets only to Antiqueños,” she said.

Cadiao added that the free tickets could be availed by Returning Residents (RR) of the province after they lost their jobs in Metro Manila due to the health pandemic.

The first trip, where the first batch of 100 Antiqueños could avail of the free tickets, will leave Batangas Port noon of March 2 and will arrive midnight at Lipata Port in Culasi, Antique.

“Starlite will have Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday trips from Batangas Port to Lipata Port,” she said.

The second trip, where the second batch of 100 Antiqueños could avail of the free tickets, will be on March 4.

“The total 200 free passengers onboard Starlite will only be for those coming home to Antique,” Cadiao clarified.

The Antique Provincial Tourism Office is the one coordinating for those wanting to avail of the free tickets.

“For those who could not avail the free tickets, Starlite is also providing a special discount during its maiden voyage on March 2 with only PHP1,540 ticket per passenger considering that its regular rate is PHP1,950,” the governor said. (PNA)