By Joan OrendainInquirer
Posted date: February 14, 2007
MANILA, Philippines -- Strike a win for commuters -- the Pasig River Ferry Service is coming on line on Wednesday with two boats, cutting travel time for them by as much as 80 percent. Fares, too, will cost at least a third less -- another win.
The launch of the service will be conducted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself. Ferry Passenger No. 1 will sail down the Pasig in air-conditioned comfort in a twin-hulled catamaran 24.5 meters long by 7 meters wide.
Catamarans are more stable than single-hulls, provide a wider deck, and are more comfortable. Each vessel has a capacity of 152 passengers. Two earth-friendly diesel engines of 355 horsepower each will run at an average operating speed of 10 knots.
Apart from commuters receiving the welcome addition to their range of transport choices, the Mutya ng (Sweetheart of the) Pasig also would be pleased. A figure of legend attached to the romance of the Philippines’ first highway, passengers may view her beauty out of panoramic windows -- where areas are relatively unspoiled.
Five of 10 terminals along the Pasig have been built and are ready for operation. These stations are located at the Escolta, Santa Ana, Guadalupe, Hulo and Lambingan. The average distance from a jeepney, bus or Metro Rail Transit (MRT) line is about 300 meters.
The service will please early birds, operating from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., as well to allow commuters to catch last-hour rides on the MRT. Total travel time includes a three-minute stop at each station.
Initial routes, with other routes to be announced later, are: Link / Node Ferry Travel Time Escolta - Sta. Ana 20 minutes Sta. Ana - Guadalupe 15 minutes Guadalupe - Hulo 13 minutes Hulo - Lambingan 7 minutes Lambingan - Sta. Ana 3 minutes
The ferryboat operator will charge a minimum rate of P25 per short route inclusive of the station fee.
For longer routes, the rate will be P35 to P45.
More boats coming
By the end of February, two more boats will come into service, with boats No. 5 and 6 ready by March 31. RFID (radio frequency identification) cards for multiple journeys, similar to an e-pass, are available at ticketing booths to avoid long queues.
Demonstrating that public and private sector partnerships can work, the government has provided the infrastructure: The ferry stations, security and safety of navigation, and the improvement and protection of the environment. The three agencies involved are the
Department of Transportation and Communications, the Metro Manila Development Authority, and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.
From the private sector, Nautical Transport Service Inc. built, owns, and will operate the Philippine-made ferryboats. The company has been granted a five-year license by Marina or the Maritime Industry Authority, to run the service.
Two previous attempts by the private sector to provide ferry transport did not succeed because of the government’s failure to provide stipulated passenger terminals.
Private-public partnership
Visually, the situation is expected to improve with the relocation of squatters from both banks of the river who are the main cause of the river’s pollution. In their stead, linear parks are being constructed, with several already built and enjoyed by their neighborhoods.
“Scientific tests show that there is life again on the Pasig River. The fish are back, and salinity has improved a lot,” says Undersecretary Francisco Bravo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which is charged with restoring the river.
Chairman of the Pasig River Ferry Project is Agustin Bengzon, who initiated the plan for the ferry service when he was DoTC undersecretary. Although he has since been appointed by Ms Arroyo to the presidency of NDC Maritime Leasing Corp., Bengzon was nevertheless retained by Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza to continue to head the project and see it to completion.
“The project is a model of a public-private partnership for a mass transport system with no government subsidy. The government provides the infrastructure, and the private sector provides and operates the ferryboats,” Bengzon says.
The Metro Manila Development Authority represented by Undersecretary Cesar Lacuna is part of the joint effort coordinating the project in tandem with the DoTC and the PRRC. Also on the team is Unilever’s General Manager for Corporate Development Chito Macapagal, representing the private sector. Unilever has long been a keen supporter of a clean Pasig River.
Life vests
In compliance with safety requirements imposed by Marina that life vests provided should number 10 percent more than the maximum passenger capacity, the ferry service operator has provided each vessel with 160 life jackets. A small coffee and snack bar on board will be operated by a concessionaire.
Costs of building the all-weather ferry stations have been sourced from an Asian Development Bank loan with counterpart funds from the Philippine government earmarked for the rehabilitation of the Pasig River and its environs. Amenities include clean toilets, telephone booths, vending machines and a lift for disabled passengers.
Both the ADB and the government will be fully paid back by station fees collected by the ferry service’s operator.
4 more stations
When the project is completed later this year, in addition to the 10 terminals stretching from Plaza Mexico at the Pasig River’s mouth, there will be four more stations along the Marikina River all the way to Santa Elena.
“The feasibility to replicate the Pasig River Ferry Service in other major river systems in the country such as the Dagupan and Cagayan Rivers, should also be considered and studied,” Bengzon says.
This project may well serve as a template for riverine transport, as in days of yore.
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=49361
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7 comments:
It is pleasant to know that there is an improvement with regards to public water transportation. 80% is a huge improvement when you're talking about cutting the traveling time of people who use the ferry to travel from one place to another. This would mean that people who would normally go on those trips will have an extra alotted time which they can use to either rest or to work more. I can assume that this will increase the porductivity of people, which in return will help boost our economy. Also it is good to know that Philippines in gradually progressing even if i think it is just by a small margin at a time. In my opinion, the government wouldn't really be able to have accomplished this project without the help of the private sector. As most of us know, the private sector has the contacts as well as the capacity to manage this kind of project, because management would be assumed to be their specialty. It is also good to know that the private sector and the government are making projects that would greatly benefit the filipino people. I just hope that the two sectors wouldn't only focus on personal profit, but rather they should also aim for betterment of the majority.
It's nice to know that our government has taken measures in reviving the Pasig River. People thought that this river will be of no use due to pollution, however, they've come up with a way to clean it up and put the river into good use with these ferries. I think that such project is a good idea because not only does this help in letting others see how our country is slowly progressing but also this helps the commuters to have another option on how they'd travel aside from other public utility vehicles (ie. jeepneys, tricycles, buses, and taxis). This can also help them in cutting their travel time. Hopefully this will be a start for the government to further think of projects that may increase the economy of the country and also help the Filipinos as well.
It's nice to know that our government has taken measures in reviving the Pasig River. People thought that this river will be of no use due to pollution, however, they've come up with a way to clean it up and put the river into good use with these ferries. I think that such project is a good idea because not only does this help in letting others see how our country is slowly progressing but also this helps the commuters to have another option on how they'd travel aside from other public utility vehicles (ie. jeepneys, tricycles, buses, and taxis). This can also help them in cutting their travel time. Hopefully this will be a start for the government to further think of projects that may increase the economy of the country and also help the Filipinos as well.
Jose Clemente E. Flores
This was a very uplifting article that promises to bring solutions to a myriad of our problems in the metropolis. The revival of the ferry operations along the Pasig river, a joint project of the private and public sectors, hopes to:1)not only cut travel time by 80% but also travel cost by 33%, not to mention that the lesser people using the roads and highways, the lesser road traffic other commuters will have;2)forge an experimental partnership with the public and private sector that if successful, will act as a precedent for fututre projects between the two that may benefit both the government and the consumers/public in general;and 3)not only decongest road traffic and lessen fuel costs but to revive the Pasig River, a long-neglected artery of Metro-Manila and perhaps ressurect it to its former use and glory, and perhaps equal, if not rival the still beautiful and useful Chao Phraya river of Bangkok.
I think the said project is good since it enables the passengers to cut-costs and lessen their travel period from one place to another. Moreover, this Pasig Ferry Service project would help the transportation of goods from one station to another to be efficient and effective. The close collaboration of different governmental agencies and private organizations/ companies would help foster solidarity within the business sector and the government sector. This unity would lead to further infrastructure and rehabilitation development of Pasig River. “The project is a model of a public-private partnership for a mass transport system with no government subsidy. The government provides the infrastructure, and the private sector provides and operates the ferryboats—Bengzon says.” For instance, the Department of Environment started its cleanliness drive by relocating the squatters into other area, minimizing the pollutants that would harm the river system. To cut it short, we can see that there are still people who are concerned for Pasig River and this development that they contribute will further increase network or links that would contribute in strengthening and developing the areas in and around the river system.
Amidst the increasing prices of oil fuel and people clamoring for lower fare and more affordable basic commodities, the government together with the private sector proved in this project that they can still do something for the people. It is good to hear that they have taken initiative and they saw other venues to help some commuters in their everyday routes. As an alternative, the ferry makes travel faster, easier and more environment friendly. Our country needs to utilize and take care of our water resources too aside from paying too much attention to the sky-rocketting prices of fuel.
“The project is a model of a public-private partnership for a mass transport system with no government subsidy. The government provides the infrastructure, and the private sector provides and operates the ferryboats". This statement by Bengzon shows that when the government helps and works hand in hand with the private sector in providing services to the people, their efforts can go a long way in pleasing the people and alleviating them of their burdens and problems in life.
I was surprised when I first saw the ferrys working again. It is good to hear that its working again and also the marine life in Pasig. This can be very convenient for people commuting and also (a possibility) a good way to attract tourists. It is also good to hear that this project requires the cooperation of both private and public sectors.
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