SANDAKAN – The only ferry connecting Sabah to the Philippines will only begin its operations in May, despite the reopening of Malaysian borders tomorrow.
According to a travel agent who only wants to be known as Ling, the ferry named Antonio I is currently under repair and is expected to only be operational in May 2022.
The ferry is the only one that provides service between Sandakan and Zamboanga to locals and migrants with valid passports, with a rate of about RM290 per trip.
Ling also told The Vibes that his company currently has limited information about the standard operating procedure involving those who want to travel from Sabah to the Philippines.
“We have received several inquiries from customers and employers. However, the ship is currently under repair. I think we will only be able to start operating in May,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Filipino masseuse, Joy, who has been working in Sabah for four years, said that she is not planning to go back to her hometown anytime soon despite being aware that the border is opening on April 1.
She explained that unfortunately, she and her countrymen had lost nearly all their savings during the pandemic and the resulting movement control orders that had shut down many industries, including the service industry.
“We work based on commission (on how many customers we receive). So, during the pandemic, we were jobless and had to rely on our savings to get through the day for almost a year.
“Without money, there is no point for us to return because we would not be able to give money to our families at home,” she said.
Joy, however, said that she is earning a decent income now that the number of customers has been increasing gradually.
She is positive that she will be earning enough money to return to her hometown next year. – The Vibes, March 31, 2022
