The government plans to expand the Pasig River Ferry Service operation in Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay to address traffic congestion in Metro Manila and offer alternative modes of public transportation.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Romando Artes said they will work on this with the help of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
“Part of our plan is to add more ferry boats and open new stations in Intramuros in Manila, Bridgetowne in Pasig, and Marikina,” according to the MMDA chief. “Right now, we have 15 boats. We also have three stations that will hopefully be opened soon,” he added.
The Pasig River Ferry Service caters to more than 1,000 passengers daily. In 2023, Artes said they served 254,000 commuters.
The ferry service presently runs between Pasig City and Manila with 11 stations: Pinagbuhatan, San Joaquin, and Maybunga in Pasig; Guadalupe and Valenzuela in Makati City; Hulo in Mandaluyong City, and Lambingan, Sta. Ana, PUP Sta. Mesa, Lawton and Escolta in Manila from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
According to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr., the Pasig River Ferry is a potential solution to traffic issues and can be utilized as an alternative transportation system in the National Capital Region.
But more work is needed, especially in the implementation of the Pasig River Urban Development Project, he said.
The ferry route was designed to cut the point-to-point travel time to just an hour instead of the usual three hours via land travel.
President Marcos signed Executive Order 35, which created the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD).
The IAC-PRUD was primarily tasked to “facilitate and ensure the full rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River water system […] to provide alternative transportation, propel economic opportunities, and boost tourism activities.”
DILG is one of the 13 member agencies of the said council chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and vice-chaired by the MMDA chairperson.
The Philippine Coast Guard recently signed an agreement with MMDA to further improve the service, attract more passengers, and enhance maritime safety and security in the Pasig River Ferry operation.
Under the agreement, the Coast Guard will inspect merchant ships and vessels, conduct emergency readiness, evaluations, coordinate aids to navigation, vessel traffic systems, maritime communications, and search and rescue facilities, provide aid to distressed persons and vessels, enforce laws for marine environment protection, and grant requests for assistance from other government agencies.
The MMDA, on the other hand, will continue to operate and maintain the Pasig River Ferry Service between Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City and Escolta in Manila, and use its rescue boats for disaster-related activities under its public safety mandate for Metro Manila commuters.