MANILA — The Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) Ferry System Project’s approval is expected to get the green light soon with its feasibility study seen to be completed by the middle of 2025.
“Nakikita po natin na matatapos ang feasibility study nito by the first half of this year. Inaasahan natin na by the middle of 2025 makakakuha na tayo ng approval para sa proyektong ito,” said Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan on Wednesday, Jan. 22, over the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Sakay Na! radio program on Radyo Pilipinas.
Usec. Batan said the transport agency is working alongside the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center for the MAPALLA Ferry System, which is seen to provide commuters an additional and efficient transit system by utilizing the arterial rivers of Pasig and Marikina, and Manila and Laguna Bay.
“[We’re] making the most of what’s already there kasi nandyan na po ang mga ilog, ang Laguna Bay at Manila Bay. Kailangan na lang po nating maglagay ng high-capacity ferry system,” he stressed.
The project’s first phase, according to Usec. Batan, will cover a 30-kilometer stretch of the Marikina River and Pasig River, which will also have at least 32 ferry stations.
He added that the it will run on 40 electric ferries, which can accommodate 100 to 150 passengers in a single trip.
The transport executive noted the ferry system will be patterned after the Chao Phraya River Ferry System in Bangkok, Thailand and New York Ferry System in New York City.
The MAPALLA Ferry System seeks to connect the waterways of Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna via a high-capacity, high-frequency and low carbon commuter vessels.
Through a high-capacity, high-quality mass transit ferry, the MAPALLA Ferry System will have intermodal transfers with other transit systems and active mobility networks. (DOTr)
