MMDA launches 2 passenger ferries

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday launched two new passenger ferries for its Pasig River ferry service.

According to Maxima Quiambao, head of the MMDA’s Sewerage Management Office (SMO) handling the ferry service operations, the two new Cebu-built ferries - MV Tolentino and MV Inocentes, brings to 11 the total number of ferries in the service.

Quiambao also said that the MMDA would be opening the ferry service’s Maybunga station in Pasig City that will also serve the Marikina River.

The MMDA earlier opened four more stations for the Pasig River ferry service in Barangay Hulo in Mandaluyong, Barangay Valenzuela in Makati, Lawton in Manila and at the Lambingan Bridge in Sta. Ana, Manila.

According to the MMDA, the five new ferries for the ferry service can each carry between 25 and 30 passengers on an average speed of about 30 kilometers per hour.

MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos is encouraging people to consider taking the ferry service as an alternative mode of transportation considering the traffic jams on the major roads of Metro Manila such as the ongoing construction of Skyway 3 along Osmeña Highway and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport elevated expressway.

The MMDA revived the Pasig River ferry service last April as a possible alternative transport mode.

The Pasig River ferry service earlier had seven terminals: Guadalupe in Makati City; Pinagbuhatan and San Joaquin in Pasig City; and Escolta, PUP Sta. Mesa, Plaza Mexico and Sta. Ana in Manila. 

Passengers on the ferry are charged between P30 and P95 depending on the distance travelled between terminals.