The Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) ferry system project’s feasibility study is expected to be completed by mid-2025.
“Nakikita po natin na matatapos ang feasibility study nito by the first half of this year. Inaasahan natin na by the middle of 2025 makakakuha na tayo ng approval para sa proyektong ito,” said Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan over the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Sakay Na! radio program on Radyo Pilipinas.
Usec. Batan said DOTr is working alongside the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center for the MAPALLA ferry system, which is seen to provide commuters an efficient public transport utilizing the Pasig and Marikina rivers as well as and Manila and Laguna Bays.
“[We’re] making the most of what’s already there kasi nandyan na po ang mga ilog, ang Laguna Bay at Manila Bay. Kailangan na lang po nating maglagay ng high-capacity ferry system,” he stressed.
The project’s first phase, according to Usec. Batan, will cover a 30-kilometer stretch of the Marikina River and Pasig River, which will also have at least 32 ferry stations.
He added that it will operate using 40 electric ferries, which can accommodate 100 to 150 passengers per ferry.
The transport executive said the ferry system will be patterned after the Chao Phraya River Ferry System in Bangkok, Thailand and New York Ferry System.
The MAPALLA ferry system seeks to connect the waterways of Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna via a high-capacity, high-frequency and low carbon commuter vessels.
Through a high-capacity, high-quality mass transit ferry, the MAPALLA ferry will have intermodal transfers with other transit systems and active mobility networks.