The Metro Manila Development Authority is planning to open 30 Pasig River Ferry terminals to accommodate more passengers in the eastern part of Metro Manila and in the provinces of Rizal and Laguna.
Of the 30, seven terminals will be constructed around the Laguna Lake and in the City of Calamba, said MMDA deputy chairman Frisco San Juan.
“This will be built in the coming years,” San Juan said.
The MMDA made the announcement during the launching of two new fiber glass ferries at the Guadalupe Station in Makati City on Monday.
The arrival of new boats, capable of carrying at least 15 passengers, including crew, brings to 16 the total number of operational ferries.
“Our main objective really is to help the people find an alternative mode of transportation and to ease traffic in Metro Manila,” said MMDA officer-in-charge Thomas Orbos.
“Hopefully, we are looking to go beyond Metro Manila. In Taytay, you can imagine it will take you two hours from Taytay to Makati and we are talking 30 to 45 minutes,” he added.
Orbos said he will be having a meeting with Department of Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade and officials of the Laguna Lake Development Authority soon to discuss the opening of new terminals.
“The role of the government is to open up the routes. Hopefully when it becomes successful, the private sector should come in already,” Orbos said.
Aside from Rizal and Laguna, the MMDA will also open soon the new terminals in the areas of Eastwood in Quezon City and Riverbank in Marikina City.
“We are encouraging the people to try our ferry system. We can help in the environment and at the same time our travel will be faster, like from here to Manila it will take you less than an hour. So, please help us, the more that we use it, the more that we’ll become viable,” said Orbos.
MMDA records showed that 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.