Free ferry service to Manila, Taguig shopping hubs

The Interagency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) launched on Friday a free shuttle service that will directly bring commuters from the ferry stations to shopping hubs in Manila and Taguig.

Through I-ACT’s partnership with Megaworld Corp., the public can enjoy until February free shuttle rides from Guadalupe station to Uptown in Bonifacio Global City, and from Escolta station to Lucky Chinatown Mall in Divisoria, and vice versa. In Guadalupe, eight 30-seater shuttle buses have been deployed, while in Escolta three 15-seater vans have been made available.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Tim Orbos said the initiative should encourage shoppers to take the ferry especially this holiday season.

On average, the MMDA’s current fleet of 11 ferries take 400 passengers from its 12 stations daily. During the holidays, passenger volume is expected to swell to around 600.

Apart from the shuttle service, the MMDA has also partnered with commuter website Sakay.ph for it to include the ferry service as a transport option in its app starting Monday.

The MMDA has also extended the ferry system’s operating hours.

Trips from Guadalupe to Plaza Mexico will be from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The last ferry from Plaza Mexico to Guadalupe will leave at 9 p.m.

An express service—7:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.—from these stations was also made available.

This schedule will remain in effect up to  Dec. 31.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade has called on the public to try the ferries and help reduce not just road traffic but the country’s carbon footprint. —JOVIC YEE