Pasig River Ferry Service

The Magsaysay Lines started operation during 1990 and had stations from Guadalupe in then-Municipality of Makati down to Escolta Street in Manila (a total of 15 kilometers), using river-side sheds as stations. The service however lasted only for a year and closed in 1991. Its short-lived operation was beset by problems such as the proliferation of informal settlers along the route, water lilies, garbage and other debris clogging the waters (preventing the boats from traveling at normal speeds), aside from the foul odor permeating the environs.

In 1996 another ferry service was launched, the Starcraft Ferry. This service's fleet is the ancestor of the current Pasig River Ferry Service fleet since this service had 30 units of catamaran-type boats (the same type used by the current Pasig River Ferry Service) with a seating capacity of 30 people with air-conditioning. Unlike Magsaysay Lines, it had a smaller boat aptly named the M/V Tamaraw or the River Taxi, as during this same year the Tamaraw FX service became very popular. It offered a seating of 12 people, also air-conditioned, and could be hired like a taxi service for travel along the river, just like a Tamaraw FX taxi. The route stretched from Bambang in Pasig down to Escolta in Manila (a total of 16.2 kilometers). However, like the Magsaysay Lines, Starcraft Ferry only lasted for almost three years and it closed in 1999. Like the Magsaysay Lines, the problems encountered during the operation were informal settlers, water lilies (which prevent the boats from traveling at normal speeds), foul odor and garbage disposed on the river.

The project proponent, Eduardo Manuel, is an environmental conservationist and a licensed SCUBA Diver, who also owns a diving school located at Santo Sepulcro in Paco, Manila. The Pasig River Ferry Transport 2000 project was an improvement of the earlier service provided by the Magsaysay Shipping Corporation. During the course of the operations of the Pasig River Transport 2000, its service offered a fresh solution to the worsening traffic problem of the metropolis, but sadly, the local government units involved in the project fell short in its cooperation with the project proponent, which made it difficult to effectively provide the solution to the traffic problem of the Cities in the Metro Manila areas. During this time there was another business entity who was also interested to offer the same service, the Maharlika Transport, backed by the Uniwide Group of Company (Uniwide Sales, at present they are now the Puregold chain of groceries/superstores) of the Gao family. The two companies had a media battle as the Gao Group submitted the same project to the Philippine Marina and the DOTC.

During that same time, the two companies had a media battle that worked to the advantage of the project as it stirred the interest of the public, and the local government unit involved with the project. Later that same year of 1996, the media battle was won by the PR Group of the Pasig River Ferry Transport 2000, headed by Komfie Manalo, an independent PR Practitioner, and was also the Marketing Manager of the Starcraft Ferry Corporation, the project was awarded to the Starcraft Ferry Corporation, the boat manufacturer and operator of the Pasig River Transport Service. After barely a year of operation, the company ceased its operation due to losses in income, as the local government units involved with the project was unable to deliver on their commitments to make the project work.

Manuel's group also entered into a partnership with R-II Builders to operate the Laguna Lake Ferry Transport Service with terminals in Los Banos, Laguna and Binangonan, Rizal. The Laguna Lake ferry operation proved to be more profitable than the Pasig River operations and held more promise if only more boats were deployed for that route. But the falling out between Manuel and R-II Builders saw the collapse of the project with Manuel taking over full operations of the Laguna Lake ferry service in late 1998 until its eventual closure in 1999.

Passengers in one of the boats of the ferry service in 2008

M/R E. Tolentino, one of the ferry boats of the Pasig River Ferry Service

The current ferry service was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 14, 2007 with five stations operating, including Escolta, PUP, Sta. Ana, Hulo and Guadalupe. After a year, the entire system grew from 5 stations to 14 stations, with more stations still to be constructed.

Unlike the previous Pasig River ferry services, this ferry service uses only 10 boats. However, to compensate for it, each boat could have as many as 150 people and had air conditioning, music, high definition televisions and toilets on board. Also, unlike the two previous ferry services, this service has full stations with amenities such as toilets, ticketing system, waiting seats and security guards. Also, it is the longest-serving ferry in the river, both in terms of length of the route (28 kilometers and 2 lines) and the length of service (although the company did somewhat considered closing the ferry in June 2008 due to low number of passengers). It is also the only ferry service that serves the Marikina River from Riverbanks Center in Marikina, although this line is not yet operational.

This ferry service was not without problems. In the early days of the service up to June 2008, the low passenger turnout nearly caused NTSI (Nautical Transport Services, Incorporated) to go bankrupt and it even considered closing the ferry. However, the continuing surge in the oil prices in the Philippines forced commuters to use alternative modes of transportation, including the ferry. From July 2008, the number of passengers increased 15% every week and almost all boats were full. This and other related events made the NTSI consider purchasing more boats to increase capacity as opposed to closing the line.[2]

Although there were still pollution-related problems, odor and garbage problems were not as bad as they were during the Magsaysay Lines and Starcraft Ferry days through the efforts of the government. But the persistent problem of the water lilies blocking the pathway of the boats and their infestation on the stations on the river remained.[3]

This service was also used by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission to highlight the importance of the environment to the people of Manila. Lectures were conducted to stakeholders from various companies and schools (at least four times a month) and to the regular passengers of the ferry (at least thrice a week).[4]

The ferry service was closed in February 2011.

The latest Pasig Ferry Service was reactivated on April 28, 2014[5] to alleviate the traffic situation in Metro Manila in light of the infrastructure projects being constructed simultaneously. The ferry service is operated by Metro Manila Development Authority.[6]

The proposal to institutionalize the Pasig River Ferry Convergence Program has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte during a Cabinet meeting on April 4, 2018. The plans to build 17 more stations for the Pasig River ferry system in the next four years, from the current 12. The proposed restoration of the ferry service is expected to help address problems such as traffic, pollution and lack of connectivity among transport systems in Metro Manila.[7] The national government will spend P2 billion to revive the Pasig River ferry system, this time with smaller boats moving through more stations at a faster pace.[8] The rehabilitated Pasig River Ferry Service was relaunched on December 9, 2019.[9]

As of April 12, 2017, there are 12 operational ferry stations:[11] Prior to the MMDA takeover, ferry stations along Quezon City and Marikina were operational. Though plans were laid out to eventually restore services there, they currently are closed.

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Locations of the Pasig River Ferry Service stations; places of the numbers in relation to the markers denote if the station is at the north or south bank of the river.

The system used twin-hulled, double-engined, catamaran-type ships with a maximum seating capacity of 150 people. The ships are air-conditioned, equipped with radio, sound systems, a public address system and utilize fixed plastic chairs. There are rest rooms. These boats were constructed by the Nautical Transport Services, Incorporated, and were approved by the Maritime Industry Authority on December 10, 2006.

The current Pasig River ferry service has 7 boats that can accommodate a varying number of passengers.

• 2 boats can accommodate 57 passengers
• 3 boats can accommodate 36 passengers
• 2 boats can accommodate 16 passengers

Fleets used and operated by the MMDA are notably named after past MMDA Chairmen.