FAST, CHEAP MANILA-LAGUNA FERRIES
Manila, Jan. 2, 1998 - Tourism, housing, employment, commerce, agriculture and education will all be boosted this year with the launching of a new way to travel -- fast and inexpensive ferry boats from the mouth of the Pasig River Manila to the Rizal and Laguna shores of Laguna de Bay.
President Ramos himself tested the waters, so to speak, when he boarded the Starcraft Pasig River Ferry Express at Punta, Sta. Ana, and got off at Binangonan, Rizal in a fraction of the time it would normally take by car.
Right now, the initial phase of the ferry service takes passengers between Tondo, Manila and Rosario, Pasig, a trip that takes the boat only 35 minutes. By car, the travel time through Manila's traffic could be as long as two hours.
The ferry service has opened its first stations at Farola (Engineering Island), Fort Santiago, Jones Bridge/Escolta, Hulo in Mandaluyong, Pasig High School, Bambang (Pasig), Taguig, Rosario, Lambingan Bridge (Sta. Ana), Guadalupe, Muntinglupa and Marcos Bridge.
In 1997, the ferry service deployed 20 vessels for operation among the Pasig River. Passengers pay P20 for a one-way trip along the route. Other types of ferries, called Jeepney and Taxi Ferries, charge P10 and P25 one way.
The next phase is the fielding of four 75-seater air-conditioned River Cats on the Guadalupe- Binangonan-Los Banos route. Travel time from Guadalupe to Los Banos is 50 minutes, instead of three hours by car.
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