Passenger who will be riding the ferry boats in Pasig River will enjoy a free ride until Jan. 31.
The Metro Manila Development Authority agreed to give free rides to the public following a request from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go who wants to make the transport service accessible to all during the Christmas season.
“I appealed for a free ride until January 31 or until the MMDA can bear with the free ride. I urged the MMDA and the Department of Transportation [DOTr] na maging libre ito o maging minimal ang bayad because this can help our people,” he added.
Saying he fully supports the ferry transport system to ease the traffic gridlock, Go also expressed interest to help augment the number of ferries presently in service.
Go attended the relaunching ceremony for the Pasig River Ferry Service on Monday at the Quezon Bridge Ferry Station in Lawton, Manila.
The neophyte senator also disclosed that he will recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte to ask concerned agencies to work in finding ways to make the fare minimal so that the transport service can benefit more Filipinos.
The only water-based transport service in Metro Manila, the Pasig River Ferry Service serves passengers from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City going to Intramuros in Manila.
However, the service experienced decline in the previous decades due to the pollution of the river.
But in 2014, the ferry service was revived to alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila. In April 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte also approved a proposal to institutionalize the Pasig River Ferry Convergence Program which includes plans to build seventeen more stations for the Pasig River ferry system in the next four years, from the current 12 stations.
The ferry service is presently operated by the MMDA.
To ensure the sustainability of the transport service, Go likewise urged Filipinos, especially those who live along the riverside, to be responsible citizens and join the efforts in keeping the Pasig River clean.
During the same event, the senator also urged the police to continue supporting the campaign of the government against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs.
After the event, the senator also joined a short ferry ride from the Quezon Bridge Ferry Station in Lawton to Malacañang and back.