The Metro Manila Development Authority has announced it has suspended the operation of Pasig River Ferry system due to carpet of water lilies and other aquatic plants that clogged the river from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City to Lawton in Manila.
“Due to the volume of water hyacinths, the operations of the Pasig River Ferry System is suspended today until further notice. Thank you,” said MMDA stated in its advisory.
The water lilies, that clogged the river during rainy season, came from Laguna Lake and it has long been the problem affecting the operation of the ferry river system since the time of then MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, who initiated to revive the system.
MMDA general manager Thomas Orbos said the water lilies entangle the ferry's propeller, preventing the boats from traveling at normal speed. He added propellers have to be elevated so that tangled water lilies and even pieces of trash can be removed.
The MMDA revived the Pasig River system in 2014 as a means to decongest Metro Manila’s major roads affected by road construction projects of 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 that 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.
It also showed that 65 percent of the pollution in the Pasig River is caused by household waste, 30 percent from industrial waste, and 5 percent from solid waste coming from informal settlers living along the river.