MEGAWORLD Corp. has joined the Pasig River Ferry service program of the Metro Manila Development Authority by offering free-shuttle services at stations in Escolta in Manila and Guadalupe in Makati City.
The free shuttle service will cater to ferry passengers going to and from Divisoria and Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, as well as Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.
“The part of Megaworld here was to provide the shuttle service. They [Megaworld] were able to see the effectiveness of the ferry,” said MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos.
Orbos said the free shuttle service in Escolta and Guadalupe stations will be launched on Friday to be spearheaded by officials of the Inter-ageny Council on Traffic (I-ACT) and representatives of Megaworld.
“Of course you can ride [the shuttle service] even if you are not going to the mall or are going to Divisoria,” he said.
The MMDA chief said the free shuttle service would be very helpful not only for the employees of Uptown Mall and Lucky Chinatown but mall goers as well, especially holiday season shoppers.
The agency now has 14 operational ferries. In September last year, the agency also inaugurated a new fiberglass ferry.
Orbos said the fare was reasonable for the commuters—ranging from P20 to P95—depending on the destination, and the major advantage of this mode of transport is the absence of traffic, resulting in faster travel time.
“Try the Pasig River ferry. It will help the environment and at the same time it would be faster to travel from here [Makati] going to Manila for it will only take you less than an hour,” he added.
At present, the ferry service has 11 stations which include Pinagbuhatan, and San Joaquin in Pasig City; Guadalupe and Valenzuela in Makati City; Hulo in Mandaluyong City; PUP Sta. Mesa, Sta. Ana, Lambingan, Lawton, Escolta, and Plaza Mexico all in Manila.
It operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during weekdays and 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.
Last month, the MMDA marked its 41st anniversary giving free rides to passengers of Pasig River Ferry.
Orbos said the free boat rides was one way of giving back to the people for their support to the ferry system since April in 2014.
The Department of Transportation has a plan to improve the service of the ferry system, according to Orbos.
The MMDA is also set to open new terminals on River Bank in Marikina City and Eastwood in Quezon City.
“Our target is before the end of the year,” said the MMDA chief.
MMDA records showed the total ridership of the ferry system has reached more than 150,000 as of December last year.
The MMDA revived the Pasig River system in 2014 as a means to decongest Metro Manila’s major roads affected by road construction projects being implemented by the government.
The program also aimed to boost Metro Manila’s tourism and can be used for disaster and rescue purposes as well.
Reports showed the government stopped the Pasig River Ferry operations in 2011 following complaints from passengers about the long waiting time at the terminals and the river’s foul smell.