An opposition leader in the House of Representatives on Monday batted for the deployment of more smaller air-conditioned boats as well as the construction of more stations to attract commuters to use the Pasig River service.
Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said some 76,000 commuters are expected to take the new Pasig River ferry service every day once the water transport system is revitalized with two dozen 50-seater air-conditioned boats and 29 stations, with a vessel moving through each terminal every 15 minutes.
“Malacañang’s decision to revive the ferry system is a bold move,” Campos said, as he batted for the renewal of the service to help fight worsening road congestion.
Campos said the old ferry service that ran from 2007 to 2010 flopped simply because the private operator digressed from the original plan to deploy 18 boats with a seating capacity of 50 each.
The previous operator used fewer and bigger boats—six vessels with 150 seats each. As a result, passengers had to wait for a long time for the vessels to fill up and depart, Campos said.
“The key to drawing in passengers is fast and reliable service—one that will allow riders to easily predict what time they will get to their intended destination, plus connectivity to other modes of public transport on land,” Campos said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque recently announced the Cabinet has approved the restoration of the ferry system, with Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno overseeing the technical working group.
“Secretary Diokno can definitely get the job done faster. If necessary, he can propose to lodge all the required new funding for the project in the executive budgets of the multiple agencies involved,” Campos said.
The project will engage the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, Metro Manila Development Authority and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, among other agencies.
The new ferry service, set for soft-launch in December this year, will require the construction of up to 19 additional stations.
The old ferry service was originally designed to have 14 stations, but actually operated with only 10 functional terminals. The old stations will also be rehabilitated and improved under the new system.
Campos said he is counting on the project “to drive the rejuvenation of the Pasig River to its historically pristine condition conducive to transport, recreation and tourism.”
