One traffic buster and transport solution that is already in our midst, and that millions of us Metro Manilans pass through daily but obviously ignore, is the Pasig River. This river system traverses the cities of Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila with its tributaries reaching Marikina, Caloocan and Quezon City. The Pasig River also connects Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay, giving water access to the provinces of Cavite, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal and Laguna to Metro Manila.
Imagine the potential of a well-supported river ferry system. What would normally take hours of travel would be cut in half. The current two-hour Marikina to Makati trip would take 45 minutes; Pililla, Rizal, to Makati would just be half the current time. How about Biñan to Divisoria in over an hour? All possible via Pasig River. And let’s not even talk about bulk cargo. Imagine the effect of the number of trucks off Manila roads traversing east to west with a reliable cargo ferry system.
This was the case historically, until road transport became the focus of past administrations. But bringing back a reliable mass transport river ferry system would still be a logical step. It can be done quickly and cheaper than any rail or road development. All that is needed is the proper infrastructure and enhancement of the river transport ecosystem.
There were many past government efforts to revive the Pasig River ferry system, specifically by Department of Transportation and Communications and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. From the time of then Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza to Jun Abaya, MAPALLA (Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake) river transport studies were conducted with brief attempts at private commercial service. The longest sustained ferry service was the one started by then MMDA chairman, Sen. Francis Tolentino and now being continued by the currrent Chairman Danny Lim. Though the river ferry service still needs a lot of work, these efforts have given government the needed institutional knowledge and experience in turning this river ferry service into a viable transport alternative.
What have we learned? As a former MMDA official, here are some of the challenges that I feel need to be addressed:
The Pasig River ferry service needs to be part of an integrated transport system with reliable transfer connections to other transport modes, bringing commuters to key points in Metro Manila and the MAPALLA area. Commuter convenience of transfer to main lines needs to be in place.
Schedules need to be followed with less delays. One thing that needs to be resolved is the problem of security checks once a boat crosses Malacañang. Though understandable, this needs to be resolved as it takes at least 25 minutes for this detour.
The fare cost should not be higher than road transport. In my discussions with interested private ferry operators, the costs would not match up with the projected commuter traffic. Right now, the government continues to subsidize the fares and should do so until such time that commuter traffic hits critical mass.
People also complained of the smell of the river and suggested air conditioned vessels. That is good but not as important as fare costs. Also, the cleaning of the river is partially resolved with a more conscious citizenry doing small things to help clean up the river.
What else can be done? Involve the private sector. Along the Pasig River and the MAPALLA area are the big mall operators—SM for MOA, Rockwell, the Ayala Circuit and Megaworld’s Eastwood. Use them as docking sites. Let them spend for it. They may even invest on the ferry service.
The river clean up? Either government does it or toll all the commercial establishments along the river and the vessels. That should provide the funds needed for sustainable dredging and cleanup.
Let us rebuild and strengthen the Pasig River ferry service. It remains to be the cheapest and fastest transport alternative. Pasig River—the river “super highway” is already there.
1 comment
The Pasig can be made useful if there is a high frequency of boats plying the route. If there is one vessel every 45 minutes nobody will use it as a daily transport route.
Go take a look at Bangkok’s Chao Phraya river to see how it can be used efficiently.