DOTr Anticipates Mid-2025 Approval for MAPALLA Ferry System

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is optimistic about the approval of the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) ferry system by mid-2025, following the completion of its feasibility study in the first half of the year. DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development, Timothy John Batan, shared this timeline during an interview on Radyo Pilipinas. The project aims to enhance commuter travel by utilizing the existing waterways of the Pasig and Marikina Rivers, along with Manila and Laguna Bays. Batan emphasized the use of environmentally friendly, high-capacity, and high-frequency electric ferries for the system. He highlighted the strategic use of existing natural resources, stating, ‘We’re making the most of what’s already there because the rivers, Laguna and Manila Bay are already there. We just need to implement a high-capacity ferry system.’ The initiative is a collaborative effort between the DOTr and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center. Upon approval, the initial phase will span a 30-kilometer route along the Marikina and Pasig Rivers, featuring 32 ferry stations and serviced by 40 electric ferries, each capable of carrying 100 to 150 passengers per trip. The project draws inspiration from successful ferry systems like the Chao Phraya River Ferry in Bangkok and the New York Ferry System. Once operational, the MAPALLA system will integrate with other transit and active mobility networks, enhancing the overall transportation infrastructure.