Pasig ferry offers tour for students

An educational “adventure” tour of the Pasig River opened yesterday as a way of promoting the historical and environmental importance of the highly polluted main waterway to school children.

Some 500 students from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Integrated School of Santa Maria, Bulacan and Saint Gabriel Academy of Parañaque City joined the maiden voyage of the Students Adventure in Learning (SAIL) Pasig River cruise yesterday morning.

Information and Campaigns Consultants, Inc. (Infocamp) conceived of the tour with the help of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Roger Garcia, president and chief executive officer of Infocamp, said they are hoping that the Pasig River educational tours will help promote awareness of the historic, social, and cultural importance of the river that has been polluted and neglected by Metro Manilans.

“Maybe, if we can impart to them the significance of the Pasig River in our country’s history and culture, we can encourage them to join in the efforts to rehabilitate it,” Garcia said.

The Pasig River cruise will be conducted on six brand new catamarans chartered by Infocamp from SCC Nautical Transport Services, Inc., and will sail through the length of the river on a leisurely speed of nine knots from a jump off point at a station in Escolta, Manila.

He said that Infocamp will offer the educational cruises to all interested schools that want to provide their students with an alternative learning experience.

From yesterday’s maiden cruise, Garcia said the project seemed to validate his belief that the Pasig River tour would be appreciated by school children despite the murkiness and odor of the river.

The SAIL tour, which costs at P100 per student, includes the guided cruise and a documentary film on board the ferry discussing the history of Pasig River.

The route includes passing through the historical bridges along the river, from Del Pan Bridge up to the Nagtahan Bridge in Manila, passing through Malacañang Palace, where students gets a full view of the Executive House and Malacañang Park.

Malacañang Palace emerged as the landmark that generated much awe and interest among the students who joined yesterday’s maiden SAIL voyage.

Fort Santiago, Parola (Lighthouse), Arroceros Park, Isla de Convalecencia where Hospicio de San Jose is situated are among the historical landmarks students will see during the tour.

Also part of the tour is a trivia contest where students can win prizes.

The Pasig River Educational Cruise Program is a joint venture of SCC Nautical Transport Services, Inc., the owner/operator of the Pasig River Ferry boats, and Infocamp.