More Free Rides With Relaunched Pasig River Ferry

Bye to this awful holiday traffic!
by Meryl Medel | December 11, 2019

More good news for commuters! In addition to the newly launched Cavite–Manila ferry and the Los Banos extension of the Philippine National Railways, the Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) is now once again operational, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced last Monday, 9 December 2019.

Just like the Cavite–Manila Ferry, the PRFS is also offering free rides until Friday, 31 January 2020.

via Vico Sotto / Facebook

According to MMDA, the PRFS has 11 stations along the length of the river from Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City to Escolta, Manila. There are plans to build more stations — namely, Kalawaan in Pasig, Circuit in Makati, and Quinta Market in Manila — but as of writing, the current stations are as follows:

1. 1. Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City
   2. San Joaquin, Pasig City
   3. Maybunga, Pasig City
   4. Guadalupe, Makati City
   5. Valenzuela, Makati City
   6. Hulo, Mandaluyong City
   7. Lambingan, Manila
   8. Sta. Ana, Manila
   9. Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila
   10. Lawton, Manila
   11. Escolta, Manila

The PRFS currently employs 7 boats of different capacities: 2 boats can accommodate 57 passengers; 3 boats, 36 passengers; and 2 boats, 16 passengers.

The two 57-seater boats named MB Mutya ng Pasig 1 and MB Mutya ng Pasig 2 were lent by the local government in an effort to contribute to the relaunch of the PRFS, according to a Facebook post of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.

Commuters may make use of the PRFS from Monday to Saturday, Inquirer reports. The first trip from Guadalupe to Escolta leaves at 6:30 AM. Trips from Pinagbuhatan to Guadalupe start at 7 AM. The last trip from Escolata to Guadalupe leaves at 5:30 PM, while the Guadalupe to Pinagbuhatan route ends at 3:30 PM.

Fares have not been announced yet.

When are you hopping on this ferry? Tell us about your experience!