MAYOR WANTS PASIG RIVER FERRY EXTENDED

Manila Bulletin

February 26, 2007

Close to 70 percent of eastern Metro Manila’s workforce are from Rizal province, and this alone validates a request of a local chief executive for an extended route of the Pasig River Ferry Service to Taytay town.

Mayor Joric Gacula of Taytay Rizal yesterday cited the need to revise the ferry service’s route design and allow the river buses to reach as far as their town, particularly in the mouth of the Laguna de Bay.

Gacula, who described the ferry service as “very useful and critical in solving Metro Manila’s traffic problem”, said that they would seek the help of Gov. Casimiro M. Ynares Jr. in facilitating the revision on the route design of the Pasig River Ferry System.

“Extending the route of the ferry service won’t affect its design.  It would only allow more people to benefit from it,” Gacula said.

The youthful mayor said that they are willing to pour in counterpart funds for the construction of a local ferry station  in a strategically located area where people, not only from Taytay but also from other localities, could be fetched on their way to work.

Gacula added that most likely to benefit from an extended ferry service route are thousands of Metro Manila –based office workers who used to form part of the demolished squatter colonies in Metro Manila and now residing at the relocation and resettlement areas in Taytay.

Consistent with the national government’s program on enhancing the country’s transportation system.  Gacula likewise expressed support to the ferry system, which he said would greatly contribute to the government’s effort to declog Metro Manila thoroughfares from the daily traffic burden.

Under its original masterplan, the Pasig River Ferry System would serve as an alternative transport system amid Metro Manila’s worsening traffic.  Part of the revised ferry system mechanics is the establishment of terminals, especially a multimodal facility located at the mouth of the Pasig River that will allow river ferries to link up cities and towns of Metro Manila.

“Using the Pasig River as a navigational route for people working or doing business in Metro Manila on a daily basis, is a timely and bright idea.  However, to maximize the number of Filipinos benefiting from it, we suggest that the route be extended to the outskirts of Metro Manila,” Gacula said