DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines -- The cities of Dagupan and Alaminos in Pangasinan and San Fernando in La Union have agreed to establish a ferry system along the Lingayen Gulf to help strengthen and spur economic, tourism and cultural ties between them.

Mayors Alipio Fernandez Jr. (Dagupan) and Hernani Braganza (Alaminos) on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement for the ferry system. San Fernando Mayor Pablo Ortega is expected sign the agreement when he returns from abroad.

The officials said the project aims to provide an economically viable, convenient and efficient mode of transportation for tourists, residents and goods between the three cities located on the rim of the Lingayen Gulf.

These cities belong to the North Quadrangle Growth Corridor and the ferry system is envisioned to link them to other ports like Currimao (Ilocos Norte), Subic (Zambales) and Manila.

Fernandez said the ferry system was not a new idea but actually a revival of a system that operated between Pangasinan and the Ilocos provinces before the 1935 floods destroyed the berthing facility in Dagupan.

"Since the 16th century, trading between Pangasinan and Vigan (Ilocos Sur) was done by Chinese merchants and Filipino fishermen through boats that used the Lingayen Gulf. A ferry system is important in the development of provinces and cities and in the Ilocos region," he said.

Braganza said Alaminos stands to benefit most from the project as it is "the least developed" of the three cities.

It was Alaminos that proposed the ferry system to the other two cities.

With the ferry service in place, tourists from Northern Luzon and Baguio City can take boats from San Fernando to visit the Hundred Islands, go to Dagupan to shop, then return to San Fernando, Braganza said.

On the other hand, residents of western Pangasinan can take the ferry to San Fernando where regional offices are located, saving travel time, he said.

The ferry system is expected to cut travel time from Alaminos to San Fernando from three hours to about an hour.

The MOA said a tri-city project committee would be formed to organize a project task force to support the ferry system's operations.

Fernandez, Braganza and Ortega have committed funds for the construction of piers for the ferry system in the three cities and for research to ensure passenger safety.