50-seater boat added to Pasig River Ferry Service, more stations to be reopened
REAL estate firm New San Jose Builders, Inc. has donated a 50-seater boat to the Pasig River Ferry Service, adding to the current fleet of 11 vessels that operate at 50% capacity in consideration of health protocols. Benhur D. Abalos, Jr., chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that operates the ferry system, said the new boat is a most welcome addition as they slowly expand the transport service and provide an alternative to land travel in the congested capital. “We assure the public that we will continue to improve the ferry service for a comfortable and safe riding experience of the public,” he said during the boat’s formal turnover ceremony on Thursday at the Guadalupe station in Makati. Mr. Abalos said their aim is to double the ferry boats, shorten the waiting time of one hour to 30 mins to encourage more passengers, and open the Napindan dockyard in Taguig. He added that they plan to add more routes that will interconnect Manila Bay, Pasig River, and Laguna Lake. The Pasig River ferry, revived in December 2019, runs between Pinagbuhatan in Pasig and Escolta in Manila. The 11 boats currently has a combined passenger capacity of 455 per one-way trip. New San Jose Builders Chairman Jose L. Acuzar said they are glad to contribute in easing traffic congestion. “The Pasig River Ferry Service is an effective alternative transportation that doesn’t just lessen the land vehicle volume but also promotes the beauty of the historic river,” Mr. Acuzar said.