MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will open a new terminal for its Pasig River ferry service in Sta. Ana, Manila today.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency has completed the repair of the old Sta. Ana ferry station in coordination with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.
“With the opening of the Sta. Ana station, we will be expanding our routes to service more passengers,†Tolentino said.
The other ferry terminals are located in Plaza Mexico in Intramuros; Escolta; PUP-Sta. Mesa; Guadalupe in Makati, and Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City.
Located on the southeast bank of the Pasig River, the Sta. Ana ferry station would benefit passengers from Paco, Pandacan and San Andres in Manila.
The MMDA said the terminal is near Barangays Old Zaniga and Vergara in Mandaluyong and Barangays Carmona, Kasilawan and Tejeros in Makati City.
The ferry service operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The MMDA revived the Pasig River ferry system on April 28 as an alternative mode of transportation. It started its commercial run on May 15 with eight boats deployed by Orient Craft, a private ferry service company.
Each ferry carries a maximum of 30 passengers.
A fare of P50 is charged from Guadalupe to PUP, Sta. Mesa, Manila, Guadalupe to Escolta, Manila, and Guadalupe to Plaza Mexico also in Manila.
Ferry passengers will be charged P30 for a ride from PUP station to Escolta and from Escolta to Plaza Mexico.
Tolentino had earlier proposed the revival of the Pasig River system to decongest Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares affected by 15 road construction projects being implemented by the government in the next two years, including the Skyway Stage 3. It also aimed to boost Metro Manila’s tourism.