Aside from extending the operating hours of the Pasig River ferry system, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will also adjust its fare rates to attract more riders.
MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino said that starting on June 1, the ferryboats would ply their routes from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, one hour shorter than the current 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule.
However, the lunch break period (the hours when the ferryboats stop operating) will be shortened to between noon and 2 p.m. from the present 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The changes in the operating schedule were aimed at accommodating more passengers, especially students going back to school, Tolentino said in a statement.
By June, more private firms apart from Orient Craft are expected to take part in the ferry system’s operations.
The Orient Craft’s eight boats have been plying passengers from the Pinagbuhatan station in Pasig City to the Escolta and Plaza Mexico stations in Manila.
Passengers are charged a fare of P50 each for a single journey from the Pinagbuhatan to the Guadalupe station in Makati City or vice versa; P50 for a single trip from Guadalupe to any of the three stations in Manila —PUP in Sta. Mesa, Escolta or Plaza Mexico—and P30 for a one-way trip from PUP to Escolta or from Escolta to Plaza Mexico and vice versa.
Two more stations (Sta. Ana in Manila and San Joaquin in Pasig City) are expected to open next month.
The MMDA said that discussions were ongoing to reduce the fare rates. In the meantime, loyal passengers would be given an additional 20-percent discount should they purchase in advance at least 10 tickets starting on June 2.
This is on top of the regular 20-percent discount given to senior citizens, students and persons with disabilities.