Pasig River ferry service starts April 28

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasig River ferry service will begin operating on April 28, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said yesterday.

Tolentino said there are now seven private ferry operators interested in the Pasig River service. However, Tolentino said only four firms will be selected by the Metropolitan Manila Council (MMC), which is composed of the mayors of Metro Manila and is the policy-making arm of the MMDA.

The MMC, which held a meeting at the San Juan city hall, approved the ferry service that was proposed by the MMDA as an alternate transport system in the face of traffic jams expected to be generated by the construction of major infrastructure and other road projects across Metro Manila, he said.

Tolentino added that the responsibility of repairing and maintaining the passenger stations or terminals to be used by the ferries falls on the concerned local government units (LGUs).

“I am thankful because (the Metro mayors) are in full support of the project. We are at the point that the LGUs fix the terminals because they have jurisdiction,” he said.

According to Tolentino, the rehabilitation of the passenger stations along the Pasig River, built by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) and which were previously used by a defunct ferry operator, is now ongoing.

Tolentino said the rehabilitation of the stations is mostly funded by donations from the private sector. He said the MMDA is looking to revive a minimum of six stations and a maximum of 12 by next week.

According to the MMDA, the ferries will start operating at 5:30 a.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. Tolentino said the fare for the ferries has still yet to be set by a tripartite committee composed of the MMDA, the PRRC and the Department of Transportation and Communications, which has control over the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Tolentino said the MMDA is eyeing the activation of five passenger terminals on April 28.