MANILA (PIA) — Metro Manila commuters may soon have an improved alternative mode of transport, with the proposal of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for an P800-million annual budget for the upgrade and maintenance of the Pasig River Ferry System.
Dubbed the Pasig River Intermodal Transportation Project, the PPA’s initiative aims to rehabilitate the ferry system along the Pasig River.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago has announced that the agency is prepared to allocate up to P800 million annually for deploying watercraft, developing stations, and dredging the river.
Inspired by the Venetian public waterbuses known as Vaporetti, the project will introduce ferry services at 18 terminals along the river. This initiative aims to reduce travel time from the Escolta Ferry Terminal to the Pinagbuhatan Terminal in Pasig City from three hours to just 30 minutes.
If approved, commuters will have access to at least two types of ferry rides: regular service connecting various stations and water taxis that can be booked for specific destinations. All ferries will be required to have air conditioning for passenger comfort.
Santiago also mentioned that each terminal will feature a shuttle bus to transport passengers to the nearest land transit options. For example, those disembarking at the Plaza Mexico Ferry Terminal can take a shuttle to Kalaw Avenue, where public utility vehicles and a station for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 are located.
Santiago expects that the PPA could take control of the Pasig River Ferry Service immediately, stating that if the proposal is approved in March, the ferries could be operational by December.
“If the President says the PPA can take over immediately within the year, we can start implementing the rehabilitation of the Pasig River,” Santiago said. “We will dedicate sufficient investments, estimating costs between P700 million and P800 million annually.”
The PPA is optimistic about the project’s financial viability, reporting a 26-percent increase in net income last year, rising to P7.41 billion from P5.88 billion in 2023.
Under the new plan, the PPA will collaborate with the Maritime Industry Authority to issue franchises to private operators for deploying watercraft in the Pasig River.
Currently, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority offers the Pasig River Ferry Service free of charge, benefiting over 172,000 commuters from January to October 2024. However, the service has faced frequent disruptions, making it unreliable for those needing to reach work or school on time.
Previously, the Department of Transportation had plans to overhaul the ferry service, aiming to transform it into the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) Ferry System through a public-private partnership. (JLN/PIA-NCR)
