THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday said more than 46,000 passengers were transported by the Pasig River Ferry Service in the first three months of 2024.
MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said 46,497 passengers were transported by the ferry service from January to March this year.
Artes said they are confident the number this year will even top the ridership in the past two years.
An updated data provided by the MMDA Monday showed that 170,902 passengers used the ferry service in 2022 and 254,333 in 2023.
The MMDA operates nine ferry boats servicing 13 stations in the cities of Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila.
The stations are located at Pinagbuhatan, San Joaquin, Maybunga, and Kalawaan in Pasig, Guadalupe and Valenzuela in Makati, Hulo in Mandaluyong, and Sta. Ana, PUP, Lawton, Escolta, Lambingan, and Quinta in Manila.
Artes said additional ferry boats will be procured and more stations would be built this year as part of the overall Pasig River Urban Development Project of the government.
“Under the Pasig River Urban Development Project, we will add more ferry boats, construct more linear parks and open new stations in Intramuros, Bridgetown in Pasig, and Marikina, and we will also rehabilitate the PUP station in Sta. Mesa to enable the Pasig River Ferry System to service more passengers,” he said.
Artes said also part of the planned expansion of the ferry service includes Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay.
“We are also studying expanding the Pasig River Ferry to Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay,” he said.
Artes earlier said the MMDA has inked an agreement with the Philippine Coast Guard to enhance the ferry service and revitalize the Pasig River.
Under the agreement, the MMDA will handle all administrative and office matters of the ferry service. It will also utilize its rescue boats for disaster-related activities under its public safety mandate for Metro Manila commuters.
The PCG, on the other hand, will provide personnel to man the ferry terminals and the agency’s boats to ensure maritime safety and security for the commuters.
