MMDA eyes to extend Pasig ferry service to reach Marikina River

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos and Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro. Photo from Marikina PIO

MANILA, Philippines — The government is looking into plans of extending the Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) route to reach Marikina River and give commuters in the eastern side of Metro Manila an alternative and faster mode of transportation.

In a meeting with Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro at the city hall on Thursday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said the agency is considering building a ferry terminal at the Marikina River.

“Iyong tinatawag naming ferry boat ng MMDA kasi ay libre sa ngayon. Baka puwede na ho dito sa Marikina para mga taga-Marikina, Rizal, San Mateo, magpe-ferry papuntang Maynila; hindi na kayo makikipagbunuan sa traffic,”  Abalos said.

(The MMDA ferry boat is free of charge for now. Maybe we can expand it to Marikina, so that residents of Marikina, Rizal, San Mateo will use the ferry service going to Manila, where you won’t be bothered by the traffic congestion.)

MMDA’s Pasig ferry service is currently free to all commuters. It currently has 11 stations such as in Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City, San Joaquin in Pasig City, Escolta Station in Manila, and Guadalupe in Makati City.

RELATED STORY: Pasig River Ferry scales down operations from Jan. 9-10

JPV