Gov't eyes additional boats, terminals for Pasig River ferry system

The government wants to build 17 new terminals and add 24 boats to serve the ferry system. Once completed, the operation and maintenance of the upgraded system will be offered to the private sector.

The government is planning to add more boats and terminals to the Pasig River ferry system to improve its services and turn it into a reliable mode of transportation.

On Wednesday, April 4, the Department of Budget and Management led the inspection of the ferry system with other government agencies that are part of the Pasig River Convergence Program.

Program manager Julia Nebrija said the government is planning to build 17 more stations to bring the total number of stations to 29. The new terminals are eyed along the cities of Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Manila, all the way to the mouth of Laguna Lake.

Aside from the new terminals, 24 additional 50-seater boats will be deployed. The upgraded ferry system is expected to serve some 76,000 commuters per day or around 19.8 million a year, Nebrija told reporters on Wednesday.

Nebrija also said the government is planning to take advantage of the DBM's assistance program to city governments that aims to create more "breathing spaces" by constructing parks and esplanades that lead to the terminals.

Once construction works are completed, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the government will offer the ferry operations and maintenance to the private sector.

Currently, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Pasig River ferry service runs the ferry from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City to Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Manila.

Pasig River rehab

Diokno also pointed out that improvements on the ferry system is "long overdue." He said that the department is looking at allocating a medium-term budget to rehabilitate the system, as well as Pasig River itself.

"The Pasig River ferry system also offers as an alternative mode of transportation if the 'Big One' happens," Diokno added, referring to the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that can happen when the West Valley Fault line moves. (READ: Is there hope for Pasig River rehab? Microorganisms can help)

Asked whether the rehabilitation of the Pasig River needs the go-signal of the President, Diokno said that they are working towards institutionalizing the program through an Executive Order.

"Ten agencies are involved but we are currently institutionalizing it. We are asking for the President to sign an EO which will then clarify the roles of the agencies," he said.

Diokno said that a technical working group (TWG) was created to coordinate and streamline programs and projects towards rehabilitation and utilization of the Pasig River.

The TWG includes the MMDA, the Department of Transportation, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Economic and Development Authority, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, and the Laguna Lake Development Authority.

Poe lauds DOTr for 13 running MRT trains, hopes it will be 20 soon

Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday lauded the Department of Transportation for the 13 running trains of the Metro Rail Transit 3, and expressed hope the number will increase to 20, as promised by the agency.

"We hope this will be the start of the promised resurrection of MRT's services and the reversal of its abysmal record of unfortunate events," Poe said in a press statement.

"We also hope this would alleviate the sufferings of the commuters who brave the long queues every day to get a ride, and often get off-loaded when the train encounters technical glitches," she added.

The MRT3 went on a five-day break during the Holy Week to conduct repair and maintenance activities on the trains.

It resumed operations on Monday with 15 running trains with six minutes' headway at some point.

On Tuesday, according to Poe and the MRT3, the number of running trains was 13.

In the past weeks, the MRT3 only had seven to a maximum of 12 running trains, with technical glitches hounding their operation.

Poe said a comprehensive program to rehabilitate and maintain the MRT3 is necessary.

"We look forward to the DOTr's promise to increase the running trains to 20, each having four-car configuration to transport more passengers at a faster pace," she said.

She also expressed hope to hear developments from the DOTr on the issue of the Dalian trains.

The Dalian light rail vehicles were procured under the Aquino administration and remain unused as they were found to be incompatible with the current design of the MRT3 and too heavy for the existing rails.

TUV Rheinland was hired to audit and assess the entire MRT3 system in general and the Dalian trains in particular.

"We know we have a long way to go before we can have a train system at par with developed countries. But 13 and soon, 20 trains are better than seven or eight. We will keep watch until we have a train system that is affordable, efficient, safe and comfortable, because the public deserves no less," Poe said.

Last November, the DOTr filed plunder complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against former Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad over the P3.8-billion maintenance contract for MRT3 the previous administration signed with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI). — BM, GMA News

Gov’t to build 17 addt’l stations for Pasig River Ferry Service

The Duterte administration is planning to construct 17 additional stations for the Pasig River Ferry System to make it a more reliable mode of public transportation.

The government is aiming to have a total of 29 stations for the ferry service system from the current 12, Department of Budget and Management's (DBM) program manager for the Pasig River Ferry Convergence Progam Julia Nebrija told reporters at a breakfast forum in Pasig City on Wednesday.

Apart from additional stations, the government is also planning to have 24 boats to service an estimated 76,000 commuters per day or 19,836,000 a year, Nebrija said.

"This does not yet include passenger volumes for weekend schedules, tours, or express routes," she added.

Nebrija said the new stations are slated to be constructed along the Pasig River in the cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, and Marikina all the way to the opening of the Laguna Lake.

The construction of additional stations is also in line with the plan of the government to construct additional 12 bridges along the Pasig River.

The current 12 stations of the Pasig River Ferry System are along Intramuros in Manila to Guadalupe in Makati.

For his part, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the government aims to re-establish the Pasig River Ferry System by the onset of the Christmas season, when there is an expected surge in traffic.

"The ferry system is envisioned to be an accessible, comfortable, and reliable water transport service that will offer the public mobility and connectivity through a pleasant commuting experience on the Pasig River," Diokno said.

The Budget chief said a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of 10 agencies are still working on the details of the budget needed for the construction of the additional 17 stations and the rehabilitation of the Pasig River Ferry System.

The TWG is composed of the DBM, Department of Transportation its attached agencies, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Laguna Lake Development Authority.

Aside from the ferry service, the TWG also proposes to construct additional pathways, linear parks, and esplanades leading to the ferry stations, according to Nebrija.

Diokno said the government will invest on infrastructure to improve the ferry system and then offer it to a private consortium or a company to run and maintain the system.

"The revival of the Pasig River Ferry Services is expected to affect the Pasig River system and its surrounding communities, spurring economic activity, renewing interest and citizens' sense of responsibility towards the river, and transforming this historic place into a multi-functional open space network and a life-support system for urban communities," the Budget chief said. — MDM, GMA News