The Mandaluyong City local government met with officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday, Jan. 25, to discuss the upcoming Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) Ferry System proposed in 2012.
Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben Abalos conducted a meeting with DOTr officials regarding the proposed ferry system which would traverse Manila Bay, Pasig River, Marikina River, and Laguna Lake.
The ferry system aims to provide the commuters and other passengers in the metropolis and its nearby provinces with an alternative mode of transportation through the waterways of Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna.
According to the DOTr, more than 9.6 million commuters from the National Capital Region, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal, and Bataan will benefit from the ferry system.
It is one of the biggest public-private partnerships between the national government and the private sector.
Under the project, the private sector will construct and develop MAPALLA's necessary infrastructure and associated facilities, including landing and passenger terminal facilities at selected stations; and provide carrier services in the form of watercrafts including its operation and maintenance.
Phase 1 of the project will cover the Pasig and Marikina Rivers while Phase 2 will look into a possible extension of ferry services to Laguna Lake and Manila Bay.
"Isang malaking ginhawa sa mga mananakay sa ating lungsod ang ganitong alternatibong pampublikong sasakyan (This alternative public transportation system will be a big help for our commuters in the city and other nearby provinces)," Abalos said.
Aside from the MAPALLA Ferry System, the city government also met with officials from Global Electric Transport Inc. (GET) as it looks into the integration of GET's Community Optimized Managed Electric Transport (COMET) into Mandaluyong's transportation services.
Abalos said that the COMETs will not just help alleviate the city's transportation woes but also help protect the environment and promote sustainability.