The Department of Transportation and the Philippine Ports Authority will rehabilitate the Pasig River ferry terminal project.
Dubbed as the “Bagong Tawiran ng Bayan,” the development of the Pasig River Ferry Terminal aims to rehabilitate the current “tawiran” stations where passengers take a ferry to cross the river.
Construction works will soon begin, with the project expected for completion by the middle of 2020.
Four more stations are looking to be added in the future.
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said the rehabilitation project aims to improve the facilities of the “tawiran” stations for a better commuting experience, especially for longtime users.
“I am very pleased that the Pasig River Ferry Terminal development project will now push through, thanks to the efforts of the PPA and the Local Government of Manila. Tuloy na tuloy na po ito para sa ikagiginhawa ng ating mga kababayan,” Tugade said.
Currently, ‘bangkas’ transport commuters across the Pasig River from one station to another in just under one minute and 30 seconds at a fare of P4.
DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Fernando Juan Perez said the rehabilitation of “tawiran” stations was seen to encourage public use of the major waterway to help ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
“Every day, almost a thousand Filipinos, particularly those who are part of the working class of our country, primarily depend on the transportation offered by ‘bangkas’ in Sta. Ana,” Perez said.
“We believe that this project is very important and timely, since the DOTr is currently making ways to efficiently use our inland waters as a means of transportation to ease up congestion on our roads,” he said.
Perez added the DOTr and PPA were looking to add more stations in the future to further utilize the Pasig River by providing an interprovincial transportation system from Metro Manila to Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, and Bataan.