With almost no more major roads to widen and skyways too expensive to build, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is planning to maximize the use of the Pasig River as an additional and efficient transportation system for Metro Manila residents.
DOTr Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said they are now aggressively working for the realization of the project by getting as many funding assistance alternatives, including the Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
Dubbed as the MAPALLA (Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake) Ferry System Project, the transit system would cost between P15 to P20 billion based on the initial study.
“We’re thinking of mobilizing P15 to 20 billion to put in a mega project [MAPALLA]. We’re thinking of an all-electric ferry fleet, multiple stations,” said Batan during the Build Better More Infrastructure Forum at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
“This would improve mobility and connectivity in Metro Manila and would provide commuters an additional and efficient transit system,” he added.
Currently, Batan said proposals to participate in the project preparation for MAPALLA Ferry System Project are gaining traction.
The MAPALLA Ferry System seeks to connect the waterways of Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna through high-capacity, high-frequency and low carbon commuter vessels.
Through a high-capacity, high-quality mass transit ferry, the MAPALLA Ferry System will have intermodal transfers with other transit systems and active mobility networks, according to Batan.
Once completed and fully operational, Batan said the Mapalla Ferry System would be like the Chao Phraya River Ferry System in Bangkok, Thailand and New York Ferry System in New York City.
“Some of the things we can compare this with is the Chao Phraya River Ferry System in Bangkok, the New York Ferry System in New York. Those are the examples we are looking at to replicate,” Batan said.
“This will not be a tourist ferry system. When you talk about the ferry there is tourism and there’s a commuter. This is going to be a commuter. This is something commuters can use on a daily basis to get to and from their places of work,” he added.
The MAPALLA Ferry System is expected to be even better than the existing Pasig River Ferry Service which is currently run by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).