Tuesday, May 30, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

News

Pasig River ferry system to go hi-tech

"A modern ferry terminal in an old setting" -- this is how operators of the Pasig River Ferry described the country's latest water transport corridor.

Central to its hi-tech operation is the electronic ticketing system, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission executive director Bingle B. Gutierrez said in a recent interview. This is capable of monitoring the number of passengers boarding and leaving the ferry at any given point in time, more intelligent than the existing system installed in other transport terminal.

According to its design, ticketing computers in the 11 ferry stations will be linked and all related activities can be monitored in real time in the operation center. Also, waiting passengers can see for themselves the boat schedules (arrival and departure), including the number of seats available in the incoming boat.

Chito Macapagal, Unilever's general manager for corporate development and private sector representative in the commission, said the group is even considering adding a contactless payment mode through the use of cellular phones.

In other countries such as in Singapore, their e-ticketing system in train terminals can read radio tags, such that the reader can still recognize a ticket even if its stored inside the passenger's wallet or bag.

Barring delays, the Pasig River Ferry Services is set to start operation by the fourth quarter of this year.

Ms. Gutierrez said the construction for two stations in Guadalupe in Makati City and Valenzuela are already completed.

Other stations are in various stages of construction, all expected to be done by yearend.

These are the Plaza Mexico station in Intramuros, Manila; Escolta station in Manila; PUP station at the PUP Campus in Manila; Sta Ana station in Sta. Ana Manila: Lambingan station in Sta. Ana, Manila; and Hulo station in Hulo, Mandaluyong City.

Upon opening, the ferry service is set to cater to the commuters coming from coastal municipalities along Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay.

"We expect this to attract the same volume of commuters as the MRT [metro rail transit]. MRT is designed for a 250,000 passengers a day volume. But now volume of riders is about 430,000," Transportation and Communications Sec. Leandro R. Mendoza said.

Pasig ferries will feature amenities such as air-conditioned waiting areas, viewing decks, comfort rooms, vendo machines, phone booths and lifts and access ways for persons with disabilities.

On the fare, Mr. Mendoza said: "We are looking at P2.25 per kilometer rate. But this can change, and instead adopt a fixed long-route, short-route scheme."

Aside from passengers, Mr. Macapagal, said project stake-holders are also planning to extend the service to companies.

"This will mean a lot of savings for companies as most their logistics now are land-based. For one, using the ferry service you can cut travel time from Tanay in Rizal to Makati City to 30 minutes from the present two hours," he said.

The Pasig River Ferry Services is a joint project of the commission, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Funding of about P150 million was sourced from a $75-million loan package from the Asian Development Bank. The investment cost in building the stations will be recovered via the station fees. -- Maricel E. Estavillo

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