With traffic congestion being a daily reality in Metro Manila, residents and commuters have long sought alternative ways to move around the city. From underground subway systems to the possibility of cable cars, many solutions have been explored. Now, attention is turning to a long-overlooked option: our rivers and lakes.
The government’s answer? The Manila Bay–Pasig River–Laguna Lake Ferry System, or MAPALLA—a proposed large-scale ferry network that could become a game-changer in urban mobility.
A Water-Based Transit Solution
According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), MAPALLA is envisioned as a low-emission, high-volume, and frequent ferry service that will connect Laguna Lake to Manila Bay, passing through the Pasig and Marikina Rivers. With an estimated cost between ₱15 billion and ₱20 billion, the project includes not just the vessels, but also the construction of ferry stations, docks, and support infrastructure.
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DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan explained that the concept is about maximizing existing natural waterways to ease congestion on the roads. Despite Metro Manila being surrounded by rivers and coastal areas, water transport remains an underutilized option—currently limited to the small-scale Pasig River Ferry system.
RELATED STORY: SMC to 'revive' Pasig River as part of PAREX project
Progress So Far
As of now, a feasibility study is nearing completion, and the DOTr hopes to secure full approval for the project by mid-2025. Discussions with potential private sector partners are already underway to help support the ferry system’s construction and operations.
“We expect the feasibility study to be finished by the first half of this year. By the middle of 2025, we aim to secure approval for the project,” Batan said during an interview on Radyo Pilipinas.
The ferry system’s first phase will stretch across a 30-kilometer route, featuring 32 stations along the Pasig and Marikina Rivers. To serve this route, the DOTr plans to deploy 40 electric ferries, each capable of carrying between 100 to 150 passengers per trip.
RELATED STORY: Pasig River Esplanade - Reviving Manila's Main Waterway
Integrated, Multimodal Transit
MAPALLA is more than just a ferry service—it’s envisioned as part of a fully integrated transport ecosystem. The plan includes seamless links with other public transport systems like trains and buses, as well as pedestrian and cycling infrastructure to promote sustainable mobility.
Inspired by successful water transit models such as the NYC Ferry in the United States and Thailand’s Chao Phraya River Ferry, MAPALLA aims to become a reliable and eco-friendly commuting option on a scale far beyond the current river ferry service operated by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
As Metro Manila’s roadways grow more congested each year, the MAPALLA Ferry System could finally unlock the potential of our waterways—offering a smarter, greener, and faster way to travel across the metro.
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