ON VALENTINE’S DAY. Pasig ferry inauguration set.

Manila Bulletin

February 12, 2007

Chito A. Chavez

President Arroyo is expected to lead national and local government officials in the launching of the Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) on Valentine’s Day (Wednesday) in the hope of decongesting the major thoroughfares and inner streets of Metro Manila. 

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando said the President, some members of the Cabinet and some mayors and other local officials of the metropolis have been invited to make inspection tour of the Pasig River on board two ferry boats.

He said the group will visit the four ferry stations from Manila Makati City where the President will view the waiting station’s modern amenities like airconditioned waiting area, viewing decks, clean toilets, vending machines, phone booths, elevators and facilities for the disabled passengers.

The MMDA chief revealed that the ferry service is expected to be operational after the ceremony, stressing that the water transport system is a vital component of plans to ease the traffic problems in the land-based travel network in Metro Manila.

For easy access, Fernando said the inter-agency group of which the MMDA is part has initially opened four stations in Escolta and Sta. Ana in Manila, Hulo in Mandaluyong City and Guadalupe Viejo in Makati City.

He noted that numerous feasibility studies and extensive research by traffic experts concluded that under the present situation, travel time on the road is expected to be cut to 40-45 minutes from the usual one and a half hours with the opening of the ferry service. 

In 2005, the Australian-based ferry operator Nautical Transport Service won an exclusive five-year contract to operate the ferry boat service in the metropolis amidst protests from local rivals. 

Two other firms – the Mt Samat Ferry and Metro Star Ferry – submitted their bids in an eight-hour bidding process before a capacity crowd at the MMDA head office.

Nautical Transport Service submitted a fare bid of P2.25 per vessel kilometer, besting Mt. Samat Ferry and Metro Star Ferry.

During the bidding, Robert Scott Cole, representative of the winning bidder, expressed confidence his company would be capable of providing world-class boats and premium passenger service comparable to Sydney, Australia on local shores.

In the 1960s, Magsaysay Lines established the Metro ferry service at the Guadalupe-Escolta route of the Pasig River while Star Craft ferry started operation in 1997 at the Bambang-Escolta route.

Both companies folded up after only a year of operation, a year of operation, blaming low passenger turnout, high maintenance costs and lack of consistent government support.