Study on Manila-Laguna ferry system ready by Q1
The feasibility study for a proposed ferry system that traverses Manila Bay, Pasig River, Marikina River and Laguna de Bay is set to be completed by the first quarter of 2025, according to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines.
PPP Center deputy executive director Jeffrey Manalo, in an interview last week in Quezon City, told reporters they were still ironing out the review that seeks to determine the final project cost, passenger capacity and other related matters.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) envisions this P20-billion ferry project to be modeled after the Chao Phraya River Ferry System in Thailand and the New York Ferry System in New York City.
The Philippine ferry system is seen to provide alternative routes linking the east and west corridors of Metro Manila.
The mass transport project will be built with terminals that accommodate public utility vehicles and buses for seamless transfers.
Also, the DOTr is looking into establishing bike lanes going to ferry stations, in support of active transport initiatives by the government.
In line with decarbonization efforts, the DOTr said earlier they were aiming to deploy electric boats along the routes.
200 seaports
Elmer Santiago, DOTr Undersecretary in charge of the maritime sector, earlier said they were planning to construct 200 new seaports across the country by 2028 to improve connectivity among remote islands. Each terminal is estimated to cost P20 million to P80 million.
The transportation department is also keen on building and expanding 14 roll-on/roll-off ports across the archipelago. These include San Vicente Roro Port, Maconacon Port and Palanan Port in northern Luzon; Dilasag Port, Baler Port, Infanta Port and Catanauan Port in eastern Luzon; Cadiz Port, Ajuy Port and San Fernando Port in Central Visayas; Lupon Roro Port and Sta. Ana Roro Port in Mindanao.
In January to September, the Philippine Ports Authority saw passenger traffic grow by 10 percent to 60.47 million from 54.83 million a year ago in the same period. Most of the volume was recorded in Visayas with 30 million passengers, followed by southern Luzon with 15.73 million passengers.
