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The Department of Transportation wants to open the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry System by 2029. It will use electric ferries and will also cover the Marikina River. Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News

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New Pasig River - Marikina River ferry eyed by 2029

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1762245575648Pasig River Ferry System.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>The Department of Transportation wants to open the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry System by 2029. It will use electric ferries and will also cover the Marikina River. Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr), along with its partners, is studying a possible new ferry system that will traverse the Pasig River, Marikina River, Laguna de Bay, and Manila Bay.Called the MAPALLA Ferry System, it will replace the existing Pasig River Ferry System and may open in 2029.At the Norway-Philippines Electric Ferries Conference in Makati, government officials said they are just waiting for the feasibility study for the MAPALLA project. Earlier, the DOTr announced that the study may be completed in the middle of 2025, but now said they’re hoping it will be finished next year.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/10/6/dost-launches-first-e-ferry-to-sail-the-pasig-river-by-november-1605" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DOST launches first e-ferry to sail the Pasig river by November</a></div>“Kailangan kasi ng alignment with other projects tulad ng kay PPA [Philippine Ports Authority para ma finalize kung ano talaga yung scope ng magiging project. Wala pa naman specific timeline,” said John Patrick Dayao, chief communications development officer at DOTr.Based on initial data, the MAPALLA Ferry System is a P32.8 billion project aimed at modernizing the river ferry system by using electric ferries for sustainability. It will be a high-capacity and high-frequency mass water transport system that will also offer comfortable stations with WiFi, breastfeeding stations, and other facilities.Package 1 will cover the Pasig River and Marikina River with at least 75 electric ferries. It will have stops at existing stations, and more will be added. Construction may start in 2027, and the line may open by 2029. Package 2, meanwhile, will cover Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay, and may be completed by 2035.During the first year of operation, the Pasig River ferry system is expected to carry 10,753 passengers per day, while the Marikina River ferry system is expected to serve 3,132 passengers daily.The Manila Bay ferry system will carry 6,841 passengers a day, while the Laguna de Bay ferry system will serve 1,364. Officials think numbers will grow after the first year.The feasibility study is being conducted in partnership with the Public-Private Partnership Center. No specific details have been released on the financing, but the Asian Development Bank said it is ready to help.“I’m very interested to see how this MAPALLA project is developed, and I hope it does in the future. From a banker&#x27;s perspective, I’m curious about how this may be financed, and will ADB be approached for financing. ADB is very willing and ready to support,” said Duncan McIntosh, ADB senior regional maritime specialist.Speakers at the forum also said that the government and the private sector must collaborate to develop the electric ferry industry. Currently, the law only provides incentives to electric motor vehicles, and not ferries yet. Some speakers hope that this could be amended to attract more investments in the electric ferry sector.Norwegian companies at the conference also showcased their electric ferries, which can be used for the MAPALLA project and other maritime transport projects of the Philippines. A memorandum of understanding was also signed among the IMP Shipyard, the Philippine Association of Coastal and Inland Water Ferries, Inc., and the Zero Emission Maritime Solutions to help the electric ferry industry.

The DOTr is studying a possible new ferry system that will traverse the Pasig River, Marikina River, Laguna de Bay, and Manila Bay.

The DOTr is studying a possible new ferry system that will traverse the Pasig River, Marikina River, Laguna de Bay, and Manila Bay.

DOTr eyes ferry system for Laguna de Bay, Pasig and Marikina Rivers, Manila Bay

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DOTr eyes ferry system for Laguna de Bay, Pasig and Marikina Rivers, Manila Bay

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 04, 2025 05:18 PM PHT

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electric ferry

Pasig River

Marikina River

Manila Bay

Laguna de Bay

ADB

mass transport

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