A much-needed public transportation alternative may soon rise for Metro Manila commuters as the feasibility study for a ferry system is set to be completed in the middle of this year.
The project, dubbed as Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) Ferry System, seeks to connect the waterways of Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna through high-capacity, high-frequency and low carbon commuter vessels, according to the Department of Transportation.
DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan expressed optimism that the project will soon be approved as the required feasibility study is on the finalization stage.
“The feasibility study will end by the first half of this year. We expect that by the middle of 2025, we will obtain approval for this project,” said Batan.
The DOTr is working alongside the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center for the MAPALLA Ferry System.
The project is seen to provide commuters an additional and efficient transit system by utilizing the arterial rivers of Pasig and Marikina, and Manila and Laguna Bay.
The project’s first phase will cover a 30-kilometer stretch of the Marikina River and Pasig River, which will also have at least 32 ferry stations.
Based on the plan, it will run on 40 electric ferries, which can accommodate 100 to 150 passengers in a single trip.
Batan said the MAPALLA Ferry System will also have intermodal transfers with other transit systems and active mobility networks.
The MAPALLA Ferry System, according to Batan, will be patterned after the Chao Phraya River Ferry System in Bangkok, Thailand and New York Ferry System in New York City.