Marina urges shipping firms to revive, invest in ferry service

MANILA, Philippines -  Marina Industry Authority (Marina) is urging shipping companies to invest and to revive the ferry system in light of the impending traffic problem arising from the start of the construction of major toll roads.

Nicasio Conti, Marina deputy administrator, told members of the Philippine Ship Agents Association (PSSA) during its first general membership meeting that now is the right time for industry players to invest.

“Now is the time to closely consider making an investment in the business of ferrying passengers similar to that being undertaken by the mass transit systems such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT),” Conti said.

“With the expected monstrous traffic jam along EDSA and key cities, and the MRT like blockbuster film with its long lines, why not take an alternative – the ferry,” he added.

Conti said that it would generally help decongest traffic in Metro Manila as two major road projects – the P27 billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 and the P15-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) — get under way.

He challenged the PSAA members to invest in small ships that will carry people on a regular basis instead of bigger ferries with longer waiting and loading time.

“There will be no traffic. You simply have to wait for the boat to arrive. And the operators have to adhere strictly on the loading and departure schedule so as not to incur delay. This will make the trips predictable on the part of the riding public similar to that of the MRT and LRT,” he said.

PSAA president Virgilio Angeles said asociation and various ship owners are interested to know how they could help revive the Pasig River ferry system and requested Marina to furnish them with feasibility study, report of previous operations and documents that could guide them in venturing into this alternative mode of transport.

 â€œIf government and the private sector can work hand in hand to address the situation, then the problem of the impending traffic and commuters trying to get to their workplaces in time would be alleviated,” Conti said.

Before it shut down in 2011, the ferry service transported commuters to 17 stations along a 15-km route from Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Manila, to Nagpayong in Pasig City.

The last operator deployed twin-hulled boats that could seat 150 passengers in air-conditioned cabins, he said.

It was discontinued due to the dwindling number of passengers, and navigational hazards such as the proliferation of water lilies and the foul smell emanating from the polluted river.

“Let us utilize what we have in order to transport people faster,” Conti said.