Imagine a future where Filipinos commute by ferry with the same ease and efficiency as passengers in Bangkok or New York. If all goes according to plan, the country’s waterways could soon host a state-of-the-art ferry system poised to redefine urban mobility.

Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan revealed on Thursday that the Department of Transportation (DoTr) is working closely with the Public-Private Partnership Center to bring the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) Ferry System to life.

The project is now in the final stages of its feasibility study, which is expected to be completed by midyear. Once done, the DOTr anticipates securing the necessary approvals, paving the way for construction.

“We see that the feasibility study will be completed by the first half of this year. We expect to secure approval for this project by the middle of 2025,” Batan said.

Alternative transit

Inspired by Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River Ferry and New York City’s Ferry System, the MAPALLA Ferry System seeks to offer a modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly transport option for Filipinos.

By utilizing existing waterways such as the Pasig and Marikina Rivers, along with Manila Bay and Laguna Bay, the project aims to provide a reliable alternative transit system to ease Metro Manila’s notorious traffic congestion and benefit nearby provinces.

“We’re making the most of what’s already there because we already have the rivers, Laguna Bay and Manila Bay. We need to install a high-capacity ferry system,” Batan said.

The first phase of the project will span a 30-kilometer stretch of the Marikina and Pasig Rivers, with plans to establish at least 32 ferry stations.

Forty electric ferries, each with a capacity of 100 to 150 passengers, will serve as the backbone of the system.

The MAPALLA Ferry System is designed to connect Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna via high-capacity, high-frequency and low-carbon commuter vessels.

More than just ferry rides, the system will integrate seamlessly with existing transit networks and active mobility options, creating a fully intermodal transport solution.