Pasig River ferry

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.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.

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:

Escolta to Sta. Ana = 20 mins
Sta. Ana to Guadalupe = 15 mins
Guadalupe to Hulo – 13 mins
Hulo to Lambingan = 7 mins
Lambingan to Sta. Ana = 3 mins

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.

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.

Route:

Source and more: Inquirer.net

Pic source:  Marina.gov

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