MMDA extends free ride on Pasig Ferry service

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Friday announced that it has extended for a week the  free ride on Pasig River Ferry service.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the extension of the "Libreng Sakay" starting on Monday, May 5, will enable the agency and the proponents of the revived ferry system to fine tune the operations of the mass transport system.

"Public acceptance of our Pasig River Ferry system is overwhelming. We are thankful that commuters now begin to realize the benefits of a fast and convenient transport system along Pasig River," Tolentino said.

Launched on April 28, the river ferry operations have attracted at least 5,000 commuters, with the Guadalupe, Makati-Escolta, Manila route being the widely-received river ferry route.

"In just a week, we have removed 5,000 commuters from land transport. This is a very big reduction in carbon footprint," Tolentino said.

Next week, MMDA will launch a new mobile application that will enable commuters to view the ferry schedule through their mobile phones.

Tolentino earlier met with the Escolta Heritage Association which has expressed its gratitude to the MMDA for reviving public interest in Escolta as a food tourism site.

Escolta is one of the ferry terminals revived by the agency.

To date, the Pasig River ferry system serves Guadalupe, Makati; Pinagbuhatan, Pasig; and Escolta, Manila routes. Each passenger is insured for P250,000.

Free coffee and pandesal (salted bread) are also served to passengers at the terminals.

The ferry boat project aims to revive the Pasig River ferry system as an alternative solution to Metro Manila’s traffic problems due to the number of road works.

Tolentino proposed the revival of the Pasig River system as a means to decongest Metro Manila’s major roads affected by 15 road construction projects being implemented in the next two years, including the Skyway Stage 3. 

This alternative mode of transportation is an inter-agency effort being pushed by the Department of Transportation and Communications, MMDA, and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.