Post by admin on Jul 14, 2014 17:12:13 GMT 8
Water lilies pose Pasig river ferry problem
Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren
July 14, 2014
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is monitoring the massive growth of water lilies in the Pasig River, which is posing a problem to the river ferry system.
MMDA Planning Officer Rey Lunas said carpets of water lilies in the river are starting to complicate the daily operation of the ferry.
“Apart from garbage, water lilies clog the boats’ propellers and filters,” said Lunas.
Fortunately, propellers of the new ferry boats can be elevated so that tangled water lilies and pieces of trash can be removed easily.
“Previously, personnel have to go underwater just to remove clogged debris,” he noted.
On the lighter side, Lunas said ridership of the ferry is steadily increasing since the opening of the sixth station, the Sta. Ana terminal in Manila.
“Since we started charging passengers, we record about 1,000 passengers daily but lately, the number of passengers is reaching 2,000,” said Lunas.
He attributed the increase in ridership to the opening of the sixth station, the Sta. Ana terminal in Manila, and the passengers’ continued patronage.
Other ferry service stations are in Guadalupe, Makati City; Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City; Escolta; PUP Sta. Mesa, and Plaza Mexico in Manila.
The agency is also rushing the completion of another terminal in San Joaquin in Pasig, Lunas said.
The ferry service operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. Off-peak hours or lunch break period, is from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
The agency reassured passengers that it is safe to take the ferry rides even during the rainy season.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said all ferry boats are equipped with life vests for the passengers and in case of emergencies, personnel operating ferry are well-trained.
“Of course, we do not want to sacrifice the safety of the passengers,” said Tolentino.
The operation of the ferry is automatically cancelled when storm signal number 1 is declared in Metro Manila.
Each passenger boat has capacity of 30 persons.
“But when there’s thunderstorm, it will be upon the judgment of the operations manager. He will be one to decide whether ferry boats will sail or not, especially during high tides,” said Tolentino.
Under the fare matrix, from the Pasig River Ferry station in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City to Guadalupe, Makati City, a passenger has to pay P45.
A P50-fare is also charged to ferry riders from Guadalupe to PUP, Sta. Mesa, Manila; Guadalupe to Escolta, Manila; and Guadalupe to Plaza Mexico also in Manila. Ferry passengers will be charged P30 for a ride from PUP station to Escolta and from Escolta to Plaza Mexico.
Students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) can avail themselves of a 20 percent discount.
The revival of the Pasig River system in April this year was aimed at decongesting Metro Manila’s major roads amid the implementation of numerous road infrastructure projects in the next two years.
Source: www.mb.com.ph/water-lilies-pose-pasig-river-ferry-problem/
Admin's Note:
The water lily is an invasive species.
Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren
July 14, 2014
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is monitoring the massive growth of water lilies in the Pasig River, which is posing a problem to the river ferry system.
MMDA Planning Officer Rey Lunas said carpets of water lilies in the river are starting to complicate the daily operation of the ferry.
“Apart from garbage, water lilies clog the boats’ propellers and filters,” said Lunas.
Fortunately, propellers of the new ferry boats can be elevated so that tangled water lilies and pieces of trash can be removed easily.
“Previously, personnel have to go underwater just to remove clogged debris,” he noted.
On the lighter side, Lunas said ridership of the ferry is steadily increasing since the opening of the sixth station, the Sta. Ana terminal in Manila.
“Since we started charging passengers, we record about 1,000 passengers daily but lately, the number of passengers is reaching 2,000,” said Lunas.
He attributed the increase in ridership to the opening of the sixth station, the Sta. Ana terminal in Manila, and the passengers’ continued patronage.
Other ferry service stations are in Guadalupe, Makati City; Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City; Escolta; PUP Sta. Mesa, and Plaza Mexico in Manila.
The agency is also rushing the completion of another terminal in San Joaquin in Pasig, Lunas said.
The ferry service operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. Off-peak hours or lunch break period, is from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
The agency reassured passengers that it is safe to take the ferry rides even during the rainy season.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said all ferry boats are equipped with life vests for the passengers and in case of emergencies, personnel operating ferry are well-trained.
“Of course, we do not want to sacrifice the safety of the passengers,” said Tolentino.
The operation of the ferry is automatically cancelled when storm signal number 1 is declared in Metro Manila.
Each passenger boat has capacity of 30 persons.
“But when there’s thunderstorm, it will be upon the judgment of the operations manager. He will be one to decide whether ferry boats will sail or not, especially during high tides,” said Tolentino.
Under the fare matrix, from the Pasig River Ferry station in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City to Guadalupe, Makati City, a passenger has to pay P45.
A P50-fare is also charged to ferry riders from Guadalupe to PUP, Sta. Mesa, Manila; Guadalupe to Escolta, Manila; and Guadalupe to Plaza Mexico also in Manila. Ferry passengers will be charged P30 for a ride from PUP station to Escolta and from Escolta to Plaza Mexico.
Students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) can avail themselves of a 20 percent discount.
The revival of the Pasig River system in April this year was aimed at decongesting Metro Manila’s major roads amid the implementation of numerous road infrastructure projects in the next two years.
Source: www.mb.com.ph/water-lilies-pose-pasig-river-ferry-problem/
Admin's Note:
The water lily is an invasive species.