Graduating students get fare cut from Pasig ferry

In recognition of their efforts, graduating elementary, high school and college students who take the Pasig River ferry will be entitled to a 50 percent fare discount.

The fare cut which will take effect on March 15 was announced by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino during the agency’s weekly radio program yesterday.

He said that the students would be able to avail of the discounted fare until the day after their graduation, adding that the MMDA has a list of the schedule of the graduation ceremonies of all public and private schools in Metro Manila.

“We want to recognize our hardworking students who will be graduating by offering them this discount,” Tolentino said. All that they have to do is present their school identification card.

Tolentino said that the incentive would benefit a lot of students, particularly those going to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Lyceum of the Philippines University and Mapua Institute of Technology because these schools were located near a Pasig Ferry station.

Revived in April as a means to decongest Metro thoroughfares affected by road projects, the ferry service operates seven stations: in Guadalupe, Makati City; Pinagbuhatan and San Joaquin in Pasig City; and Escolta, PUP Sta. Mesa, Intramuros and Sta. Ana in Manila.

The ferry system now has 11 boats with a maximum capacity of 30 passengers. The fare ranges from P30 to P95 depending on the destination of the passengers.

MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group head Rod Tuazon said that the agency would soon open more stations, particularly in Libis, Quezon City; in Hulo, Makati City and in Marikina City.

“The agency has also purchased five additional boats with a capacity of 26 to 35 passengers. These travel at 30 kilometers per hour, faster than the 10-kph speed of our current boats,” Tuazon added.

According to him, this will reduce travel time for passengers, especially those going to Pinagbuhatan in Pasig to Intramuros in Marikina with the trip taking just 45 minutes.

Tolentino said they were continuously aiming to improve the alternate mode of transportation. “We hope that Metro commuters will use and patronize the Pasig Ferry Service to reduce congestion in the streets,” he said.