Pasig River [Archive] - Page 3

TheAvenger

January 26th, 2007, 05:16 PM

Photos of Pasig River and vicinity as of afternoon 26th Jan 2007

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig45.jpg
Pasig River as seen from the north bank of the river on the Escolta side.
Looking eastward towards MacArthur Bridge.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig46.jpg
Looking eastward towards MacArthur Bridge.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig47.jpg
MacArthur Bridge

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig48.jpg
Looking toward the south from the Escolta side river bank.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig49.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig50.jpg
Bureau of Post as seen from the north bank of Pasig river - Escolta side

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig51.jpg
You can see the Jones Bridge

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig52.jpg
Promenade walk on the north bank - Escolta side
You can see the Jones Bridge and the Ferry Boat station in the distance.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig53.jpg
You can see the Jones Bridge and the Ferry Boat station in the distance.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig56.jpg
The unused Ferry Boat Station located beside the Jones Bridge - on Escolta side or north bank of the River.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig57.jpg
The unused Ferry Boat Station near Jones Bridge - all the sides of this white elephant structure is closed by wood and scraps yero roofing. It looks like it was no longer used.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig58.jpg
Views from Jones Bridge looking towards the west - toward Del Pan Bridge,
the last bridge near the mouth of the Pasig River ( located near Fort Santiago)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/emmanuelkristofer/pasig.jpg
View seen from Jones Bridge of Pasig River northbank on the Binondo side.
looking northwestward.

finito - other photos of Manila, I still have to post in the thread Intramuros and Manila My Manila.

metrosuburban

January 26th, 2007, 05:34 PM

^^ Diba hindi pa cia nabubuksan, so kelan siya magiging operational?? Tapos na lahat ng stations diba?

FrancisXavier

January 26th, 2007, 05:37 PM

the stations look small..hindi kaya mag siksikan jan during rush hour??

Lili

January 26th, 2007, 06:24 PM

The promenade has no railing? Someone might just push you off the pavement into the river.

TheAvenger

January 26th, 2007, 07:11 PM

the stations look small..hindi kaya mag siksikan jan during rush hour??

siksikan ? hope there is a siksikan, it means the public will use the ferry boat.

this Ferry boat scheme was done before, I think about the year 1990.
In that year the Magsaysay Lines invested and put up a Ferry Boat Service for Manila to places upriver. In the newspaper it was written that they will give free boat rides for commuter before finally starting the operation with fees. On of the Ferry boat station was beside the Feati University near MacArthur bridge.

I was taking up Radar upgrading courses in Magsaysay Lines that time and during the graduation ceremony the topic of Magsaysay Lines ferry boat was noted in the ceremony. The guest speaker I think (if I remember correctly) is the lady owner Doris Ho-Magsaysay or the manager of Magsaysay Shipping Lines. She brought up the news that they will cancell giving free Ferry ride and instead start the operations right away so they can recover their investment.

So after a few months the ferry scheme died of natural death and they lost their investment. They were good in operating and managing big ocean vessels in the foreign trade but they failed in the River Ferry.

People in MetroManila were not used to ride in Ferry boat especially in Pasig river unlike people in Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

For a successful marketing scheme for a ferry boats transport system in the Pasig river to succeed, they should give a free ride first to the commuters for about a month. If free, then many will try to experience the ferry service and then those commuters who will be given free rides will be their first paying passengers later.

In giving free rides they will spent only on fuels since the salary of their staffs is fixed whether they
have passengers or not. So that they will be successful in this Ferry boat scheme, they have to give
free rides..... pag libre maraming Pinoy ang mag try to travel by Ferry from Manila to upriver places like Mandaluyong, Antipolo, etc. Then they were prospective commuters for ferry boat.

just my opinion....

salamangkero

January 27th, 2007, 03:41 AM

hope the program will not be discontinued after a few months of operation.

FrancisXavier

January 27th, 2007, 10:57 AM

So they're not anticipating a huge ridership pala kaya maliliit ang stations..:lol:

crappypants

January 27th, 2007, 11:25 AM

OtAkAw

January 27th, 2007, 12:32 PM

The spaghetti wires, the dead river, kailan kaya magbabago for the better and mga yan...

shadow_can2003

January 27th, 2007, 03:08 PM

The spaghetti wires, the dead river, kailan kaya magbabago for the better and mga yan...

Maybe after this century :lol: Kidding aside, sayang ang Pasig River pag hindi ito nalinis. Pasig River can be an alternative for commuters para iwasan ang traffic sa EDSA. Haaaay, sana ito ang ipriortiza ni Ate Glo.

richard24

January 27th, 2007, 03:21 PM

not all the stations are done...

TheAvenger

January 27th, 2007, 04:37 PM

i don't know why revitalization of pasig is not the utmost priority of the govt. For any major city the river is the showcase and the artery that gives it life. Buhayin ang metro manila cannot be realized with a dead river.

Perhaps it is better to have a program name as Buhayin ang nationalismo.

How to revitalize the Pasig River ? The government can clean and dredge always the River but to no avail if most of Pinoy will not cooperate, it will be still polluted. You know why ? because of
Pinoy mentality.

I have observed in the past that many Pinoys from all social classes, from A to D, have don't care attitude if they perceived (wrongly) that it is not directly related to them. One example is almost everyone is dumping garbage in the street, whether it is a cigarette butts, small plastics and paper, and etc.

When it rains those thrash and garbage will flow with the water to the drainage, imburnal, estero, and then to Pasig River. Then those govt project in cleaning the Pasig River will be futile.

Pasig River is polluted not only by chemical discharges from the factories along the Pasig, but also polluted from the waste and garbage from the street...

TheAvenger

January 27th, 2007, 04:56 PM

deleted

TheAvenger

January 27th, 2007, 05:09 PM

The spaghetti wires, the dead river, kailan kaya magbabago for the better and mga yan...

magbabago yan pag ang Pinoy mentality change to the better :)

about the spaghetti wires ? where do you intend to put those wires ?
under the ground ?

the only place to put those spaghetti wires now hanging in electrical post is beneath the sidewalk. like in the U.S. they have a kind of underground tunnel to put those spaghetti wires. they can also include in that tunnel those telephone lines.

then we have created another problems, knowing the streets in Metro Manila were always flooded owing to the drainage were blocked by garbage then those tunnels for electric wires will be flooded also. to put a water pump there to make ithe tunnerl always dry will incur millions of pesos, and we don't have enough funds.

And then since knowing some Pinoys is good in pilfering even lived wire from electric poles then more easy to pilfer those electric wire in the underground tunnel. you cannot allocate budget for security guards to just guard those tunnels of electric wire if ever they will relocate those spaghetti wires.

Perhaps to solve the problems of spaghetti wire we have to change first the Pinoy mentality and first of all, ourselves.

crappypants

January 27th, 2007, 08:06 PM

Perhaps it is better to have a program name as Buhayin ang nationalismo.

How to revitalize the Pasig River ? The government can clean and dredge always the River but to no avail if most of Pinoy will not cooperate, it will be still polluted. You know why ? because of
Pinoy mentality.

I have observed in the past that many Pinoys from all social classes, from A to D, have don't care attitude if they perceived (wrongly) that it is not directly related to them. One example is almost everyone is dumping garbage in the street, whether it is a cigarette butts, small plastics and paper, and etc.

When it rains those thrash and garbage will flow with the water to the drainage, imburnal, estero, and then to Pasig River. Then those govt project in cleaning the Pasig River will be futile.

Pasig River is polluted not only by chemical discharges from the factories along the Pasig, but also polluted from the waste and garbage from the street...

should this be in the you know if you're pinoy thread. then someone will accuse you of being a pessimists.
That's already a given about the wanton ways of garbage throwing of pinoys. So it's govt's role to intervene and punish these people to reinforce
good habits. But then someone will yell human rights abuse and end result we all have to be ofws to live in a better environment. Well i guess that's better than acting responsibly , controlling baby production and proper waste disposal.

Animo

January 27th, 2007, 08:41 PM

If only the government of all cities in Manila help in cleaning the Pasig. Also, what the heck happened to those Piso para sa Pasig? I remember my school and other places having those cans or alcancia for it.

Look at Zamboanga they will have a galleon ship/restaurant and all those tourism plannings.

Zamboanga builds new parks
http://www.bworldonline.com/Weekender012607/main.php?id=travel1

http://www.bworldonline.com/Weekender012607/photos/park.jpg
The proposed museum building (above); the park’s restaurant (below)

Zamboanga City — To attract more tourists and provide a healthy environment for residents, the city administration is transforming idle public lands into first-class parks, gardens, and recreational centers.

The proposed museum building (above); the park’s restaurant (below)

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held last week to start the development of a park walk outside the Jardin Maria Clara and a modern seafront park dubbed as Paseo del Marina Zamboanga, said Mayor Celso L. Lobregat.

Public parks and gardens — especially those designed in conformity with the local culture and heritage — are considered more attractive, and are the most sought-after places by dwellers and visitors compared with traditional tourism spots.

"We want to create an impression that Zamboanga City has suitable places providing amenities for outdoor recreation; and for preserving natural beauty spots, objects of geological, historical, archaeological or aesthetic importance; and conserving wild life," he told BusinessWorld.

Public parks and gardens, he said, will be a testament of Zamboanga’s history and culture. "Eventually, these parks will be passed on to our succeeding generations, and hopefully they will earn and help preserve the culture and history we [are] creating right now."

The local government has budgeted roughly P100 million for establishing new parks and enhancing existing ones, city engineer Luis L. Despalo said. The two parks being developed are expected to be completed not later than July this year.

To give recognition to these sites as irreplaceable treasures, the designs are Spanish-inspired with a little touch of modern art, said Domingo A. Abarro, who heads the design team for the two projects. The dean of the College of Architecture at Western Mindanao State University said "The designs will give an identity to the city."

For instance, the Paseo del Mar reflects the cultural heritage of Old Zamboanga. The Paseo which has 2.5 hectares is located in a former slum area, said Sheila Covarrubias, city hall information officer. It was purchased by the city government for P10 million from the Construction Development Corp. of the Philippines (now the Philippine National Construction Corp.) during the time of the late mayor Maria Clara Lobregat.

"The over 300 families residing in the area were properly resettled at the barangay Mampang resettlement site," Ms. Covarrubias said. The sea-front park is just a stone’s throw away from Lantaka Hotel By-the-Sea and Fort Pilar Shrine built by the Spaniards. It is also near Pettit Barracks or what remained of the site between Fort Pilar and City Hall occupied by American forces at the start of their colonization campaign.

Mr. Abarro said the Paseo del Mar, which is the city’s version of Manila’s Bay Walk, is also under the so-called "Heritage Zone," which covers mainly the downtown part of the city. "With this, we conceptualize a seafront park that is not only consistent with the Spanish flavor of the area, but also a unique structure that will suite [today’s] tastes and lifestyles," said Manolo l. Tatel, who made the blueprint.

The bay walk will be a haven for joggers, bicycle riders, and individuals who want to talk a stroll with magnificent view of Basilan strait as background. The seafront park will also house at least four concessionaires which will provide food and services. Each concession stall is 40 square meters wide. The whole park will be lighted by several Spanish-inspired lamp posts.

The bay walk will be made up of grey and red bricks. Based on the original plan, the seafront park will have a floating galleon restaurant and a lighthouse. "This will create an environment of the Spanish colonization era," Mr. Tatel said. The local government has initially poured in P16 million for the development of the park.

In addition, the local government is also constructing a museum and park walk at the Jardin Maria Clara Park, located in Barangay Pasonanca’s cool environs. Planners said the P27-million project will further enhance the park.

The park now has a butterfly garden and a monument to the late mayor Maria Clara Lobregat. The area has been idle for quite sometime. It was refurbished in 2005, named as Jardin Maria Clara Park, in commemoration of the late mayor’s first death anniversary.

The planned park walk has a length of 150 meters, covered with bricks. Efren Jay A. Tangcalagan, assistant leader of the design team, said the museum will have an octagonal shape and will serve as the display center for the late mayor’s memorabilia as well as local artists’ works. The Jardin Maria Clara Park is located near the famous Pasonanca tree house and swimming pool, and the Pasonanca Natural Park, which still has 90% of its area intact with secondary and old-growth dipterocarp forest. — Darwin T. Wee

Lili

January 27th, 2007, 08:49 PM

^^ That is good to hear about Zamboangga. That place has so much to offer especially since most of its traditions and natural beauty have remained intact.

We should have something similar in Manila. A replica of the cascos of yore, the galleon, all those water crafts that used to ply the Pasig River route.

Lili

January 27th, 2007, 08:52 PM

should this be in the you know if you're pinoy thread. then someone will accuse you of being a pessimists.
That's already a given about the wanton ways of garbage throwing of pinoys. So it's govt's role to intervene and punish these people to reinforce
good habits. But then someone will yell human rights abuse and end result we all have to be ofws to live in a better environment. Well i guess that's better than acting responsibly , controlling baby production and proper waste disposal.

I agree. There should be strict enforcment of no littering or garbage dumping rules and proper waste disposal. Also, the collection of garbage should be systematic and regular because when these accumulate on the streets/sidewalks without being collected, and it starts to rain, all the garbage will get out of the plastic bag containers onto the streets and into drains and into the river. Smoking areas should have cigarette butt receptacles with a clear sign to throw the cigarett butts there.

tigidig14

January 27th, 2007, 09:18 PM

i had a story about this and it pertained about the kaing [fruit (mostly seen as a banana) basket]. anyway, they should be free to make manila cleaner

metrosuburban

January 29th, 2007, 12:46 AM

The problem is the drainage system itself. Masyadong maliit at antiquated. In Paris or London, talagang malalaki yung tunnel nila sa ilalim (pwede ka nga matulog dun kung di umuulan), dun sa ceiling nung tunnel naka loop lahat ng electric, cable, telephone internet & what have yous at lagi sila nililinis para walang bara...

venntro

February 2nd, 2007, 04:23 AM

MMDA Gen Mgr Robert Nacianceno was a guest in TV program in NBN 4 last night Feb 1, 2007 and he gave some interesting information on the MMDA projects for the next three years. He said that there was already a blessing of the Pasig ferry system so hopefully tuloy na yang operation na yan very sson. He also said that there are 6 NEW BRIDGES to span Pasig River to further ease traffic flow. He just gave hints on two of those bridges... one is between Guadalupe and the C-5 bridge and the other is one in Rockwell. So I assume that Rockwell bridge is the one passing through Noah's Ark. But I think the Rockwell Bridge is more of a privately funded project with the aid of the Lopezes. Sana these bridges are not your typical run-of the mill concrete bridge. Hopefully the designs are more artistic, preferably steel types or cable bridges and pleasing to the eyes since it's been a very very very long time since we have a new bridge spanning over the Pasig river. As to the other 4 bridges, does anyone have any idea where they will be located?

pau_p1

February 2nd, 2007, 08:13 AM

I think that the two are as you said the one that connects Rockwell to Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong... and the other one would connect Gate 3 of Fort Bonifacio Global City (Kalayaan Ave Gate) to Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong... well.. those are just my guesses... :D

venntro

February 2nd, 2007, 08:32 AM

^^ Seems feasible. The Pioneer to Fort Boni bridge will greatly decongest EDSA. But a potential choke point might be the Pioneer Tunnel. I suppose if that Pioneer bridge becomes a reality then most vehicles will pass through the Pioneer tunnel to reach that bridge to Fort Boni. Of course, those coming from the Ortigas area need not go through the tunnel. The tunnel is quite narrow and like any other Manila tunnel, it's really not that well lit. Add to the fact that the roads leading to the tunnel are quite narrow. At least the guadalupe ala cloverleaf road will hopefully be decongested.

As for the Rockwell bridge, aside from decongesting EDSA Guadalupe, it will also decongest the Makati Mandaluyong bridge. Those coming from the South going to Mandaluyong proper may just use the Rockwell flyover to Estrella and then straight to the Rockwell bridge to Mandaluyong. Mey option na ang mga motorista.

pau_p1

February 2nd, 2007, 09:12 AM

I don't think the Boni-Pioneer tunnel will be a problem... since vehicles from QC will have to get off EDSA via Ortigas Ave or Shaw Blvd and make way to Pioneer St... vehicles from Makati will not need to pass thru the tunnel as well....

though..southbound cars may also opt to turn right at the street after Pan de Manila to connect to Boni St..

Yul

February 2nd, 2007, 02:26 PM

Dapat po ay ilipat ang lahat nakatirang mga sawing palad sa tabi ng ilog Pasig. Sila po ang nangunguna sa pagtapon ng basura.

Lili

February 2nd, 2007, 03:33 PM

shyaman

February 3rd, 2007, 03:26 AM

^^ "Someday... when I'm offly low... when the world is cold... I will feel a glow just thinking of you... and the way you look tonight..." :)

Askal82

February 3rd, 2007, 03:43 AM

I prefer they made those bridges using classical designs or revive the art deco movement to add splendor to the scenery.

Bosnyboy

February 3rd, 2007, 12:26 PM

TheAvenger

February 3rd, 2007, 01:32 PM

Just wanna state my observation, i saw 1 of the river boats that will be use for the ferry system passed by us jsut now. Its huge compare to the previous boats in their earlier attempts to use the pasig as a transport route. Parang pang tourist talga. Large windows. And also wanna ask this question, why is it so cold this year? hehehe Been experiencing unexplain cold weather for the past week and a half already. 17 degrees in mla, 9 degrees in baguio and 6 in sagada. Must be climate change

perhaps the climate was changed already, due to pollution of the earth and the atmosphere, also the ozone layer was being damaged by CFC and the US don't even want to sign the UN sponsored conference Kyoto Protocol which will prohibit harmful gases like CFC.

OtAkAw

February 3rd, 2007, 01:38 PM

I prefer they made those bridges using classical designs or revive the art deco movement to add splendor to the scenery.

If they could just recreate the old Jones Bridge and the Bridge of Spain, what lovely sights they would be! I agree that classical designs would look good, and also Calatrava bridges, as I've suggested before would look phenomenal over the Pasig River.

richard24

February 3rd, 2007, 03:26 PM

Just wanna state my observation, i saw 1 of the river boats that will be use for the ferry system passed by us jsut now. Its huge compare to the previous boats in their earlier attempts to use the pasig as a transport route. Parang pang tourist talga. Large windows. And also wanna ask this question, why is it so cold this year? hehehe Been experiencing unexplain cold weather for the past week and a half already. 17 degrees in mla, 9 degrees in baguio and 6 in sagada. Must be climate change

yah.. they were indeed bigger than i expected too.... naka park ung ibang ferries sa may PUP...

bitoy

February 3rd, 2007, 03:59 PM

perhaps the climate was changed already, due to pollution of the earth and the atmosphere, also the ozone layer was being damaged by CFC and the US don't even want to sign the UN sponsored conference Kyoto Protocol which will prohibit harmful gases like CFC.

American aerosol manufacturers took the lead in switching from CFC propellants to suitable alternatives. In fact, by 1978 when the U.S. EPA banned the use of CFC propellants, most of them had already voluntarily stopped using CFCs. Since then, only a few products have been allowed to use CFC propellants–mostly bronchial inhalers for asthmatics, which have been exempted by the U.S. government as essential uses until adequate alternative propellants are developed. Other ozone-depleting substances that were used in some aerosol formulations for non-propellant purposes have been phased out according to the legislative timetable.
US EPA (http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/peg_caa/pegcaain.html)

Are those 141 countries who signed the Kyoto Protocol doing their job?
US and Australia have done their share of reducing their air pollutants since the 70's and what Kyoto protocol has been asking to the level of air pollutant is just unrealistic to be achieved by any developed industrial nations.

Other countries, such as China, India and Russia have step in also to resolve their air pollution problems.

The Filipinos should pitch in to help solve this theory of global warming as predicted by some scientists. But other scientists have differ from this phenomenon since this effect was a form of a cycle in global event.

MarkiiBoi

February 5th, 2007, 02:32 AM

‘Water taxis’ on Pasig River run next week

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the so-called “Water Taxi” on Pasig River will start operating next week.

He said two passenger boats and four stations will be launched with two more boats and six stations to follow.

The vessels have undergone testing and inspection including the completed terminals.

Mendoza said 14 stations would form part of the Pasig River Ferry Service of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.

“Supposed to be 14 stations. The four in Marikina, are under study because the river there is somewhat narrow,” he said.

He said the stations that were ready for use were those at Guadalupe Viejo, Makati; Sta. Ana, Manila; Plaza Mexico, Intramuros; and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Chairman Thompson Lantion of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the agency would also deploy public utility jeepneys at the stations to pave the way for intermodal transportation in the metropolis.

The ferry project with an estimated price tag of at least P250 million is aimed at a reliable, safe and efficient transport system while complementing the capital region’s predominantly land-based transport system.

The 17-km route will reduce the travel time to downtown Manila to 40 to 45 minutes against the one-and-a-half hour by land, said Mendoza.

The construction of the stations is bankrolled by the commission using a portion of the fund that the Asian Development Bank earmarked to rehabilitate Pasig River. Florante S. Solmerin

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7010/markiiblacksiggyjg0.png

Wonderboy

February 13th, 2007, 02:42 PM

Water equals time and provides beauty with its double. Part water, we serve beauty in the same fashion. By rubbing water, this city improves time's look, beautifies the future.

--- Josepg Brodsky, Watermark

reggiedoc

February 17th, 2007, 05:57 AM

I remember how it was to just wish that the Pasig River ferry service be revived.

Here is a personal letter to President GMA (http://www.gov.ph/forum/thread.asp?rootID=17520&catID=2) in 2004 that I believe was shared by many Filipinos wanting a change in our way of thinking. I do realize we can't hide the much bigger and deeper issues behind the Pasig River ferry project.:banana:

Here's the latest video highlighting the historic inaugural (http://www.gmanews.tv/video/4171/Pasig-River-ferry-service-now-open)of the Pasig River Ferry Service by no less than Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.:cheers:

nayki

February 17th, 2007, 06:25 AM

^^Good news!

garzland

February 17th, 2007, 06:28 AM

That's really good news... More and more business establishement will sprawl along the riverbanks because of these....

OtAkAw

February 17th, 2007, 08:34 AM

^^And people would flock the taxis because they're air-conditioned, konting amoy lang! This will signal the resurrection of Pasig I hope.

Mango

February 17th, 2007, 08:43 AM

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2007-02-17&sec=5&aid=9862
February 17, 2007 07:04 PM Saturday Article read 74 time(s)

Pasig River now clean
THE 17-kilometer historic and once scenic Pasig River, which connects Laguna de Bay with Manila Bay, is no longer biologically dead, according to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo T. Reyes.

“Pasig is now a clean and alive river with a Class C water quality,” said Reyes, in a report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentration has been reduced from 21.31 in 2003 to 16.03 in 2006 as a result of the determined efforts of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to implement the Clean Water Act and stop all companies from dumping sewage into sewer systems that eventually lead to the Pasig, said Reyes.

Coliform content of the river has also been drastically reduced as the dumping of garbage into the system has been controlled through more efficient garbage collection by local governments.

People living along riverbanks have also given their cooperation as a result of public appeal and education through media.

jgacis

February 17th, 2007, 08:57 AM

Can't wait to ride the Pasig ferry now! I'll definitely look forward to that on my next visit there. Maybe someone here who plans to take a little cruise can post some pics here. :D

reggiedoc

February 18th, 2007, 08:57 AM

DENR: Pasig River no longer dead
By Perseus Echeminada
The Philippine Star 02/18/2007

Pasig, the 17-kilometer historic and once scenic river which connects Laguna de Bay with Manila Bay, is no longer biologically dead, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) declared yesterday.

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes in a report to President Arroyo said Pasig is now a clean and alive river with a "Class C" water quality.

Reyes in a statement said the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentration has been reduced from 21.31 in 2003 to 16.03 in 2006 as a result of the determined efforts of the DENR to implement the Clean Water Act and stop businesses from dumping sewage into sewer systems that eventually end up in the Pasig River.

"Coliform content of the river has also been drastically reduced as the dumping of garbage into the system has been controlled through more efficient garbage collection by local governments," he said.

According to the report, people living along the banks have also given their cooperation as a result of public appeal and education through the media.

"In 2006, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Council has relocated a total of 6,115 families living along the riverbanks, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment along the river," Reyes said in his report.

Community facilities, such as child care and health centers and multi-purpose halls, have been built along the banks in Manila, Rodriguez, Rizal and General Trias, Cavite. Ten parks, which also serve as buffer zones to prevent direct discharge of solid waste into the river, have been completed and more have been contracted for construction.

Among the parks built are those in Muelle del Banco Nacional, Intramuros and Sta. Mesa in Manila, and others in Mandaluyong.

Reyes said ferry service along the river will also be revived. Two ferry boats are already finished and undergoing sea trials, while two more boats shall be available in March. These boats are expected to ease traffic in Metro Manila and also encourage tourism in the Metro Manila area up to Laguna de Bay.

A major project is the dredging of the Pasig River from its current depth of 5.5 meters, including reclamation of land. The Belgian government is reportedly interested in the project. A water quality enhancement project is also in the works with aid from the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank.

smokingunmanila

February 18th, 2007, 09:11 AM

I hope matuloy sana lahat na projects sa pasig river...this can revitalize the tourism industry by building structures facing the river...and floating restaurants

thomasian

February 18th, 2007, 10:36 AM

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/PasigFerry_Stations.jpg

Saan yung sa Lambingan, Manila, at pano papunta dun? Yun yata yung sa PUP?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/PasigFerry_Stations-to-open.jpg

richard24

February 18th, 2007, 11:41 AM

no.., i think lambingan is in taguig? PUP station is still not ready.., nilalagyan pa ng laman., though the structure is done..

thomasian

February 18th, 2007, 12:21 PM

^^ Ah okay. Alam ko na, Lambingan as in malapit dun sa Lambingan Bridge sa may Punta, Sta Ana, Manila.

TheAvenger

February 18th, 2007, 12:29 PM

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasigriverferry640x480.jpg

Bridges

Roxas Bridge (formerly Del Pan Bridge)There are eight (8) major bridge
spans in Manila, more than half of the number of bridges that connects
the north and south banks of the Pasig River in Metro Manila. There are
two (2) rail bridges that crosses the river, the Light Rail Transit 1 and
the Philippine National Railways track. The bridges listed below are in a
west to east order, with the first bridge Del Pan, nearest to the mouth
of the Pasig River into Manila Bay.

Roxas bridge - formerly called Del Pan (Tondo to Port Area)
Jones bridge (Binondo to Ermita)
McArthur bridge (Santa Cruz to Ermita)
LRT 1 (Carriedo station to Central station)
Quezon bridge (Quiapo to Ermita)
Ayala bridge (San Miguel to Ermita)
Mabini bridge - formerly called Nagtahan bridge (Santa Mesa to Pandacan)
Philippine National Railways (Santa Mesa station to Pandacan station)
Padre Zamora bridge (Santa Mesa to Pandacan)
Lambingan bridge (Sta. Ana)
from wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/lambingan1.jpg

Perhaps Lambingan Bridge is a small bridge spanning the Sta Ana River a Pasig tributary. Or perhaps
the bridge from New Panaderos St. to Kalentong Street.

richard24

February 18th, 2007, 12:36 PM

^^ Ah okay. Alam ko na, Lambingan as in malapit dun sa Lambingan Bridge sa may Punta, Sta Ana, Manila.

ahhh. sa punta pala un.... thanks..

demented_pigeon

February 18th, 2007, 01:03 PM

^^ sinu-sino gustong sumakay sa ferry para makita na rin ang potensyal nito.

richard24

February 18th, 2007, 01:14 PM

ako..!

minsan baka pumunta ako sa may station sa escolta para ma try ko... hindi pa kasi open station sa pup eh..

TheAvenger

February 18th, 2007, 01:14 PM

^^ sinu-sino gustong sumakay sa ferry para makita na rin ang potensyal nito.

Ako. pecha depends on my daughter schedule of going to Manila

richard24

February 18th, 2007, 01:16 PM

maybe we should have a "ferry" ssc meet.... :) hehehe.. wala lang..

thomasian

February 18th, 2007, 01:49 PM

^^ Why not, diba free ride until Feb. 20?

Lili

February 18th, 2007, 05:24 PM

^^ sinu-sino gustong sumakay sa ferry para makita na rin ang potensyal nito.

Ako kung nandyan ako. Basta ba may salbabida eh.

TheAvenger

February 18th, 2007, 06:41 PM

http://www.geocities.com/dapat_tapatt/pasigriverferry.html

ON THE OTHER HAND
Pasig River Ferry
By Antonio C. Abaya
Written Feb. 09, 2005
For the Philippines Free Press
February 19 issue

Harried commuters, who travel daily between Marikina City and Manila and have to suffer the congested roads and the polluted air, will soon have an alternative when ferry service along the Pasig River is inaugurated, supposedly by the end of 2005.

Even if it is delayed by a few more months, as it likely will be, this is welcome news for thousands of commuters who presently waste hours of their daily lives stuck in traffic during morning and evening rush hours.

The ferry service will be equipped with modern amenities such as air-conditioning, comfortable waiting areas, a ticketing system, scanners and metal detectors, comfort rooms, vending machines, and elevators for the disabled.

The government will build the ferry stations, 13 of them, each one costing P3 to P4 million, and charge the ferry operators a fee every time they dock. Because of the modest investment from the government, this is a very doable project and should be given the priority that it deserves.

The operation of the ferry will be in the hands of the private sector, as it should be. Six companies are interested in the project. Each vessel will cost about P5 million. Again, a very modest sum. A final list of operators would be known by March, said DOTC USec Agustin Bengzon. We hope this will not be made into a monopoly for anyone.

This promises to be a winner for the Arroyo Government. The convenience, the comfort, the benign environment (away from the concrete jungle), will draw many riders who will relish being spared the daily crucifixion they suffer from the endless traffic jams and thick pollution in their current land-based commutes.

There is also little possibility that this will suffer the same fate as the ferry that was tried on the same route decades ago. That ferry was not air-conditioned and thus passengers had to endure the odoriferous exhalation of a decaying and dying river. That ferry died from poor patronage.

Air-conditioning should help mitigate that. But local governments should also be required to do their share by making their riverfronts clean of garbage, untreated sewage and squatters. Entrepreneurs could be encouraged to build riverfront enclaves for dining and leisure activities that will draw in foreign and domestic tourists and generate jobs and taxes for local governments.

This early there are already plans to extend the ferry service to the towns that dot the shores of Laguna de Bay. This would be a logical next stop.

Before the advent of the automobile and the building of roads around the lake, I understand (I wasn’t born yet), travel and the transport of goods to and from Manila and the communities of Laguna de Bay was by flat-bottomed barges called cascos, propelled by bamboo poles. You can see these in period photographs displayed in museums and coffee table books of that bygone era.

I actually met someone in 1961 – in far-away Hamburg (Germany), of all places – who had vivid memories of the casco trip he took in 1928 to Pagsanjan (pronounced, in the German manner, as Pagsanyan).

When I was gallivanting around Europe on my Vespa motor scooter and ran out of money in Hamburg, I was rescued by a German girl whom I had known in university in the US. I knew she was from Hamburg, but I didn’t have her address, so I asked the polizei in the Hamburg Rathaus (city hall) to locate her for me.

In a word, I was invited to spend the weekend (until I could claim some money from home at the American Express, which opened the following Monday) with her and her family, during which her father reminisced, in German, about his side-trip to Manila and Pagsanyan, when he was on his way to join the German embassy in Tokyo in 1928.

But I digress. The extension of the river ferry to the towns around Laguna de Bay, such as Los Banos, Calamba, Pagsanjan, Jalajala, Morong, etc would be a godsend to domestic tourism and would encourage such leisure activities as weekending on houseboats (as in the lakes of Kashmir) and fine-dining at restaurants in the middle of the lake (which is only 12 feet deep at its deepest).

The likely success of the river ferry will doom the proposed subway under the Pasig River, as the ferry operators will certainly object to the disruption of their services to give way to the massive construction activities that will be needed to build a subway on or under the Pasig riverbed. *****

NEW AT THE TAPATT WEBSITE.

For those who want to know what or who Hernando de Soto (the new Poster Boy of the Arroyo Government) is all about, we have three articles on this new secular saint in the Reference Material section of www.tapatt.org.

The De Soto Delusion, by John Gravois; Demystifying Hernando de Soto, by Roy Culpeper; and The Mystery of Hernando de Soto, by Luis Vasquez Medina.

Tapatt also welcomes the columns of Former Tourism Secretary, Gemma Cruz-Araneta, who will write on tourism, urban development, history and Mexico (where she studied all three disciplines. *****

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Reactions to “Pasig River Ferry”

Hi, Tony,

The ferry idea is certainly noble. Let us just hope the operators are able
to solve the dual problem of low draft and low vertical clearance. What
happened before is when it is low tide, the draft of the ferry becomes too
deep and when it is high tide, the height of the ferry exceeds the vertical
clearance of the bridges.

There is of course the additional problem of sunken barges that the ferry
might collide with.

I trust Mr. Bengzon, a family friend of my parents, knows this being a
barge operator himself. As to whether the problems can be solved by
building a specially designed ferry, I just am not sure.

Have a nice day!

Bobby Tordesillas, desills@pw.ph.inter.net
February 17, 2005

crappypants

February 18th, 2007, 09:21 PM

reggiedoc

February 18th, 2007, 10:44 PM

You're welcome, crappypants. It was just in my heart. I wish I could trial the free rides. Maybe when my wife and I visit again in 2009, God willing.

reggiedoc

February 19th, 2007, 12:11 AM

From ADB file photo:

http://balitapinoy.net/clients/balitapinoy/PASIGFERRY.jpg

And you'd think such a modern ferry would never ply the river's stretch.:bash:

"The new Pasig River Ferry will offer air-conditioned transportation service along the Pasig River. Initially, there will be five stations bringing passengers between the cities of Manila and Makati. ADB has supported the construction of ferry stations for the new service and has contributed to the efforts to rehabilitate the river. © 2007 Asian Development Bank: Photo by Eric Sales

The air-conditioned ferryboats will have music on board and a bar. :cheers: The stations, on the other hand, will likewise be air-conditioned and will have such amenities as payphones, security system and a ticketing scheme that uses both paper tickets for single journey and radio frequency ID for stored value."

FrancisXavier

February 19th, 2007, 12:31 AM

those ferries are really nice.. i wonder how fast its speed could be...

TheAvenger

February 19th, 2007, 02:26 AM

[Quote] Reactions to “Pasig River Ferry”

Hi, Tony,

The ferry idea is certainly noble. Let us just hope the operators are able
to solve the dual problem of low draft and low vertical clearance. What
happened before is when it is low tide, the draft of the ferry becomes too
deep and when it is high tide, the height of the ferry exceeds the vertical
clearance of the bridges.

There is of course the additional problem of sunken barges that the ferry
might collide with.

I trust Mr. Bengzon, a family friend of my parents, knows this being a
barge operator himself. As to whether the problems can be solved by
building a specially designed ferry, I just am not sure.

Have a nice day!

Bobby Tordesillas, desills@pw.ph.inter.net
February 17, 2005 [Quote]

As I see the photos of the Ferry boat posted in this thread, I guess the light draft is not even more than 3 feet and the freeboard not more than 6 feet. So when it is loaded with passengers it will sink deeper and less freeboard.

By the way, since this Ferry Boat scheme is also sponsored by MARINA then I guess those brightboys in that department who may have maritime knowledge have calculated already the draft/freeboard and the under the bridge clearance during the highest Tide and the lowest Tide.

I cannot believe that they will spent millions of pesos for buying those Ferry boats without checking in details all the aspect.

The only problem I foreseen is the submerged and the unsubmerged wrecks in the River if it is properly marked by buoys and lit at night.

Sinjin P.

February 19th, 2007, 04:48 AM

Reposted from the Another Hundred Years Hence: A must-read informative thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=415004)

hooking up with the mutya ng pasig

http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/5540/psriverstationsjc9.jpg

It's not the ride, it's the connection.

So PGMA, in a textbook hallmark holiday gesture, launched the (newly revived) Pasig River Ferry Project (http://www.marina.gov.ph/pasigferry/) on Valentine's Day 2007. The two-hulled (catamaran) ferries were even dubbed "love boats."

Gilbert Felongco, writing for Gulf News (http://www.gulfnews.com/home/index.html), describes (http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10104313.html) the ferry service:

The new Pasig River Ferry, which covers a 27km stretch of Pasig River from the Manila Bay to Laguna Bay aims to provide commuters with alternative transport, authorities said.

According to Transport Secretary Leandro Mendoza, unlike several failed attempts in the past to introduce a mass transport system using Metro Manila's main tributary, the new ferry service will use airconditioned faster crafts and there will be more ferry stations along the stretch that traverses six cities. "The air-conditioned ferryboats will have music on board and a bar," he said.

Amenities

"The stations will likewise be airconditioned and will have such amenities as pay phones, security system and a ticketing scheme that uses both paper tickets for single journey and radio frequency ID for stored value tickets," Mendoza said.

During yesterday's inaugural run of the ferry, Arroyo boarded the twin-hull catamaran from the presidential palace to the service's station in Guadalupe, one of the 15 ferry stops. Mendoza said that each terminal would cost 80 million pesos (Dh6.15 million).

Apart from the initial three catamaran-type ferries, another six will be added in the third quarter of this year. The revival of the ferry service is a government project financed by the Asian Development Bank to tap the potential of the Pasig River as an alternative transport corridor to help decongest traffic in Metro Manila.
Here's my advice to Secretary Mendoza: the onboard music and bar isn't important. The ferry stations are.

As far as networks go, it's a case of the proverbial weakest link. The airconditioned stations and the fancy ticketing system is worth jackshit unless commuters can smoothly connect to another transportation mode to get to their destination.

Making the Pasig River Ferry convenient (and the investment strategic) means, among other things, that:

More after the jump... (http://hundredyearshence.blogspot.com/2007/02/hooking-up-with-mutya-ng-pasig.html)

There should be a fast shuttle from the Makati Poblacion ferry station to the Makati central business district.
There should be pedestrian infrastructure that connects the Guadalupe ferry landing to the MRT station. (And, in the future, another fast shuttle to Fort Bonifacio.)
The end nodes, Sta. Elena and Del Pan, should have park & ride (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_and_ride)(and kiss & ride) lots so people can drop of their cars and get onto the ferry. (That'll reduce the number of cars on our main arterials!)
Nearby jeepney and bus routes should be re-routed to have them pass right in front of the ferry stations. More importantly, the national goverment should look at available goverment properties (or foreclosed properties) around the ferry stations and redevelop them for affordable and middle income housing. So we can have (say it with me folks (http://hundredyearshence.blogspot.com/2006/03/transport-and-development.html)) Transit Oriented Development -then people can live near the ferry and take it to work or to school.
I think it is clearly a function of our auto-oriented elitism (and auto-riding elite) that condescendingly thinks airconditioning and music makes the ride. The decisionmakers all ride cars -and never take public transport and so don't understand what will really make it work. It shows clearly in how our investments in mass transit don't make the logical connections (http://mmmakeover.blogspot.com/2006/06/airport-loop.html).

In transportation, it is connectivity that matters. Not the fancy amenities.

Or to paraphrase that veritas of real estate, as far as transportation goes, what matters is "connection, connection, connection"

venntro

February 19th, 2007, 08:59 AM

I hope with the inauguration of a modern ferry transport system along Pasig River, the government will try to beautify the banks of the river. This way, like the Seine River and Victoria Bay, we can also promote a tourist attraction along Pasig. I know it's just wishful thinking as of now considering the sorry state of the river but with political will and the cooperation of big business, who knows? Even locals are not that attracted to any tourist Pasig river system but we can take it one step at a time.

Rockwell is already a touristy area, together with Intramuros as well as the Robinson's Pioneer section. Binondo area is quite presentable and Malacanang will be the main attraction. They are just quite isolated but if we just beautify the connecting areas and improve on the appearance of the bridges then perhaps maybe there's some hope there.

jgacis

February 19th, 2007, 09:16 AM

In transportation, it is connectivity that matters. Not the fancy amenities.

That's a good list you made there Jhaelnis. But I also think the reason why they wanted to place music and a bar in the boats is more for the "leisure" effect. The river provides a great alternative scene to the mundane traffic routes of EDSA, the MRT/LRT, and the likes...

A nice river ride with music/bar gives a unique ambience that provides a complementary experience from "land" transportation (especially for the tourists).

Of course if the main intention was for high density mass transportation, then your thoughts stand strong.

Maybe we can have a synergy of both, or have different types of ferries that serve both functions....

smokingunmanila

February 19th, 2007, 09:31 AM

Sana umabot na hanggang montalban rizal...ang lapit lang pala from guadalupe station passing through marikina river...then..they can extend to laguna de bay...all the way to alabang and other laguna towns....please...sana ma expand agad...right now...I don't bring any car going to ortigas center coming from makati...because of the stress and traffic you will experience in a 2 kilometer ride in edsa....

ishtefh_03

February 19th, 2007, 10:56 AM

maybe we should have a "ferry" ssc meet.... :) hehehe.. wala lang..

sama ako!!! gusto ko sumakay... :D

ishtefh_03

February 19th, 2007, 10:58 AM

reggiedoc

February 20th, 2007, 06:18 AM

Sinjin P.

February 20th, 2007, 06:27 AM

Jhaelnis, thanks for posting Gilbert Felongco's commentary. I think they are very valid and practical. The government should now move to look at the impact of this project. I am pretty sure they did some studies to get to this point. They do need to follow through. Thanks!

So Gilbert Felongco is the author of the Another Hundred Years Hence Blog? It's important to acknowledge the author, my apologies for not doing so :)

IsaRic

February 20th, 2007, 07:29 AM

does this mean, everyone whose going to take the ferry, will see slums along the way?

IMPRESARIO

February 20th, 2007, 07:40 AM

those Catamarans look nice! would love to try the ferry service when i come back to Manila.

papable

February 20th, 2007, 08:02 AM

does this mean, everyone whose going to take the ferry, will see slums along the way?

Yes they will see the slums in all their glory! Seriously, I really hope the ferry service will at least spur our officials, whoever is in charge of this (MMDA?, LGUs?, DILG?, DENR?, PGMA?, First Gentleman? kasi noon si First Lady Ming Ramos), to clean up the Pasig riverbanks once and for all!

:bash: :bash: :bash: ........:) :) :)

OtAkAw

February 20th, 2007, 09:57 AM

^^So I guess we won't be expecting any tourists using the ferries as a "Thames River Cruise" look-a-like whatever. Bangkok has the Chao Phraya RIver cruise and it's a hit among tourists. I hope the DOT taps the potentials of the river. Ang gandang tignan pamo ng Intramuros from the river.

amras

February 20th, 2007, 06:58 PM

I hope the radio frequency tickets could also be used in our MRTs and LRTs as soon as the wholse system is integrated. It would be very convenient for passengers since they don't have to line up to buy tickets everytime.

ishtefh_03

February 21st, 2007, 03:39 AM

Lili

February 21st, 2007, 05:00 AM

In Nairobi, Kenya, I think they have some sort of Slum Tourism or Pity Tour. I don't think this is what we want though.

venntro

February 21st, 2007, 06:26 AM

^^ The Chao Phraya River Cruise in Thailand also passes through some depressed areas and yet it's still a hit among tourists. It just a matter perhaps of highlighting the historical and tourist parts of the River Cruise and I think it will also be a hit.

A tourist guide by the name of Mr. Celdran (forgot his first name), conducts Binondo and Quiapo street tours and it seems to have a following not only among local tourists but foreign tourists as well. They also pass by some of the dirtiest and topsy turvy streets in the area. However, it continues to generate a good following. The strength of his tour guide program is that he focuses on the cultural and historical value of the area. It becomes some sort of a historical lecture cum sightseeing. Credit also to Mr. Celdran coz he puts in some theatrical antics on the side which makes the tour more enjoyable.

Now, that is something Pasig has a lot of ... historical value. We can still hope for a river cruise despite the present state of the river system.

Sinjin P.

February 21st, 2007, 06:30 AM

A tourist guide by the name of Mr. Celdran (forgot his first name), conducts Binondo and Quiapo street tours and it seems to have a following not only among local tourists but foreign tourists as well. They also pass by some of the dirtiest and topsy turvy streets in the area. However, it continues to generate a good following. The strength of his tour guide program is that he focuses on the cultural and historical value of the area. It becomes some sort of a historical lecture cum sightseeing. Credit also to Mr. Celdran coz he puts in some theatrical antics on the side which makes the tour more enjoyable.

Carlos Celdran and his blog: http://www.celdrantours.blogspot.com/

Lili

February 21st, 2007, 06:35 AM

venntro

February 21st, 2007, 06:37 AM

Thanks. Yup, it's Carlos Celdran. Perhaps, DOT can engage him to initiate a Pasig River tour via the Pasig River Ferry. I believe it will be a hit. If tourists are willing to walk through crowded streets under the heat of the sun then what more if they are sitting pretty aboard an air-conditioned vessel. We do have to remember that Pasig passes by Malacanang, Binondo and Intramuros.

Askal82

February 21st, 2007, 07:04 AM

Pasig river as shown is very rich in history and culture. It used to be the lifeblood of trade and commerce of the Manilenos back then and just like what Bayani Fernando said, its the river that defined it's inhabitants - Tagalog from Taga-Ilog. Revitalization of Pasig River along with the beautiful heritage structures along its banks will truly satisfy the nostalgia of the Old World Manila to both locals and foreign tourists alike.

ishtefh_03

February 21st, 2007, 02:11 PM

TheAvenger

February 21st, 2007, 05:28 PM

This morning at about 1000Hrs 21st Feb. I went to Escolta Ferry Boat Station to take the river cruise, however they told me that only in the morning from 6am to 9am and at 1730 hrs there is a ferry service. So I just went to Fort Santiago at Intramuros to take some photos, also photos of Pasig River as
seen from Fort Santiago.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig8.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig9.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig10.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig11.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig12.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig13.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig15.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig16.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/intra67.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig68.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/paisg69.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig70.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig73.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig77.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/pasig78.jpg

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/paisg88.jpg

.

Askal82

February 22nd, 2007, 03:14 AM

yup, that's a good idea... cruising along pasig river, then stop over by these areas, like intramuros... just like ate lili said, it's very interesting, you can see an evolution in the tour, from historical to a developed place like makati with a beatiful skylines... :D

Sort of a compressed time frame of Metro Manila's eastward expansion and development starting from the mouth of Pasig River emptying to Manila Bay. It's like walking down the memory lane.

IsaRic

February 22nd, 2007, 04:41 AM

That would be all sweet.

I think one good thing we can get from this, other than public local transport, is more exposure and awareness about what is really happening in pasig. Maybe more people will persuade the govt. to take more actions?

anyways... one more thing... i think the clearance on the bridges along Pasig is a little problem... That's if there's going to be a tour of some sort :) kinda like Chicago River! Imagine!

But because of the history entitled amongs those bridge, i dont think theres anything that can be done. Oh, and its too expensive :nuts:

Lili

February 22nd, 2007, 04:45 AM

reggiedoc

February 22nd, 2007, 05:52 AM

Asia's rivers being choked by detritus of breakneck development
02/22 11:06:14 AM

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - From the mighty Mekong, Yangtze and Ganges to countless smaller waterways, Asia's rivers sustain the lives of billions of people but breakneck development has put them under unbearable pressure.

Choked by sewage, silt and industrial waste, and made unrecognisable by dams and diversions, many have become biological "dead zones" and others like China's iconic Yellow River often no longer even trickle to the sea.

"Looking at development in the region, it's going to get worse before it gets better," said International Rivers Network campaign director Aviva Imhof.

"The situation in China is probably one of the most dire in the region in terms of both river pollution and the massive changes to the river ecosystems as a result of dams and diversions," she told AFP.

Charges of water-stealing and infrastructure schemes that parch downstream nations are traded back and forth. And many of the allegations, like the rivers themselves, go upstream to China. CHINA

Flowing from the Tibetan Plateau, China's main rivers include the Yangtze and Yellow, the Yarlung Tsangpo which becomes the Brahmaputra, the Langcang which turns into the Mekong, and the Salween and the Irrawaddy which flow through Myanmar.

The Yangtze and the Yellow become heavily polluted as they flow through greater China, and populations downstream of the other rivers complain that hydroelectric dams arrest their flow after they leave the country.

India and Bangladesh are concerned about a plan to dam the Yarlung Tsangpo and use the electricity to pump river water vast distances over Tibet to the head waters of the Yellow river.

The plan, which would cost billions of dollars, is part of China's ongoing plan to bring southern waters to the dry north, including the capital Beijing.

Already, the litany of damage to China's rivers is daunting. The country is in the grips of an acute water shortage with around 300 million people reportedly lacking access to safe drinking water.

More than 70 percent of rivers and lakes are polluted, while underground water supplies in 90 percent of Chinese cities are contaminated.

The United Nations has declared the estuaries of the Yangtze and the Yellow to be "dead zones" due to high amounts of pollutants which feed algal blooms that choke the water of oxygen.

And worsening pollution in China's longest river, the Yangtze, is reportedly putting at risk the drinking water supply to millions of people in dozens of major cities.

After leaving China, the Mekong, one of Asia's most evocative rivers, flows through Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia before reaching the South China Sea via Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

The 4,000-kilometre (2,400-mile) river is one of the most biodiverse in the world, and the lifeblood for tens of millions of people living along its banks, providing fish, irrigation and a vital trading corridor.

But Beijing's determination to turn southern Yunnan province into a hydroelectric power hub, which has already seen two dams built on the Mekong, threatens to have devastating social and environmental impacts.

"The unstable water level has already affected hundreds of fishermen along the Mekong river by reducing fish numbers," said Sumatr Phulaiyao, Thailand coordinator of Southeast Asia Rivers Network.

The blasting of rocks and rapids in the upper reaches of the Mekong to create a navigation channel for huge ships is also causing concern.

"The Mekong is one of the last major great rivers in the region that is still in a pretty viable state ecologically and in how people are able to depend on the river's resources for livelihood," said Imhof.

"But it's a river that is make or break in the next 10 years as to whether it's going to be able to survive because of all the development planned."

For many impoverished nations, signing deals with energy-hungry wealthier neighbours is proving a reliable way to boost their economies.

Myanmar, under military rule since 1962, last year forged an agreement with Chinese and Thai companies to dam the Salween River, Southeast Asia's longest undammed waterway which is home to 80 rare or endangered animals and fish.

India's most famous river, the 2,510-kilometre (1,556-mile) Ganges which rises in the Himalayas, is so polluted by industrial and human waste that even those who revere its waters now fear it.

India's Central Pollution Control Board found that the number of coliform organisms -- an indicator of the presence of fecal matter -- at one site at the start of a major bathing festival was 16 times that acceptable for swimming.

"The pilgrims come here to wash away their sins but after a dip here, they may carry skin diseases with them," said Hari Chaitanya Brahmachari, a Hindu priest who runs a monastery in Varanasi, a city on the Ganges.

Meanwhile in the capital New Delhi, each day some 3,296 million litres (725 million gallons) of mostly untreated sewage is pumped into another holy river, the Yamuna.

"The Yamuna has been killed in the last decade," said noted Indian ecologist Vandana Shiva. "There wasn't this level of dumping of industrial or urban waste before. But the city has exploded in the last decade."

With water poorly managed and increasingly scarce in India -- the World Bank has predicted a severe crisis by 2050 -- the nation is keeping an eye on what its neighbours are planning for the rivers that it relies on.

Climate change, large populations and the increase in water-guzzling heavy industries in India and China are likely to exacerbate tensions over shared rivers between the two Asian nations, said Shiva.

India too is planning an ambitious network of dams as part of a river-linking project, which would divert water from the Ganges and its stretch of the Brahmaputra, causing many in Bangladesh to worry that their rivers will run dry.

"Add to all of this the fact that in the peak summer season the water in these rivers comes from glaciers and the glaciers are melting because of climate change," said Shiva.

"Some scientists are saying 20 years time is what we have, after which these perennial mighty rivers will become seasonal."

In Bangladesh, at least a fifth of which floods each year, the effects of the 230 rivers which cross-cross the low-lying country are particularly acute.

Despite an excess of water during the monsoon, there are severe shortages at other times, with heavy economic, social and environmental impacts including a forced migration to the overcrowded capital Dhaka.

Bangladesh blames the shortage of water on its power-hungry neighbour India which it says has used dams and barrages to divert water upstream from shared rivers for irrigation projects -- a charge India rejects.

Experts say the lack of water is causing sea water to encroach, raising salinity levels, killing fish and leaving land unfit for cultivation -- major implications in a country where many people fish or farm for a living.

"Fresh water flow is decreasing day by day due to upland diversion of water and there is a serious impact on agriculture due to desertification," said Quamrul Islam, former chairman of the Global Water Partnership, South Asia.

"Forty million people live in the southwest region of Bangladesh where 22 rivers are dead during the dry season. Fisheries in that region are in danger."

The dire state of rivers in Malaysia, where authorities admit that two thirds are contaminated with sewage and won't be clean for at least 30 years, provides a troubling case study of how difficult it is to transform waterways.

In the 1980s the Sungai Juru in the northern state of Penang was declared the dirtiest river in Southeast Asia by the World Health Organisation, which said no living thing could survive in it. For two decades it has remained in an abject state.

"The first time the fish began dying in great numbers was in 1968," said Salleh bin Hussin, a 74-year-old who can still reel off the names of the different species that once lived in the Juru.

"By the early 1980s none of us were fishermen any more," he told AFP in the riverside village where children still develop rashes if they disobey instructions to stay away from the fetid green waters.

The culprit was an industrial estate which local activists say continues to spew effluent into the Juru, dodging government inspectors who don't have the resources to keep a 24-hour watch -- a common tale in Asian nations.

Salleh said that during a hungry year with no fish or money in the village, he made a stream of complaints which yielded no response, before demanding a meeting with the state's chief minister.

"I was told that pollution was everywhere, all over the world, and that's why I got upset" he said. "I lost my temper and slammed the table."

Imhof said that despite the dire situation, Asia's polluted rivers are still salvageable, like the Pasig in Manila which a decade ago was "dead, black, stinking and biologically dead" and which is now in a much improved state. :)

"It doesn't take as long as you would think to restore a river. There have been a lot of dam removal projects in the US and the river has returned to life in a very short space of time, sometimes as short as 5-10 years," she said.

"Rivers are incredibly robust. In China, one of the worst states for rivers in the region, the government is talking about investing in river restoration in some parts of the country, or at least there's rhetoric going out there.

"But I think it's going to take a long time because the enforcement capacity is very weak and there's still a lot of industrial effluent going into the rivers, and massive dam plans for rivers all over the country."

TheAvenger

February 22nd, 2007, 12:06 PM

@TheAvenger: too bad you missed the riverboat ride by barely an hour. But the pictures are nice just the same. How was the smell in the area? Tolerable?

Those spanish lamps lining up the fort look nice.

I don't notice the smell in the river, the color of river water is still brownish or muddy but no longer like before abt 10 years ago, where the color is blackish.

KiBeN

February 22nd, 2007, 12:12 PM

I don't notice the smell in the river, the color of river water is still brownish or muddy but no longer like before abt 10 years ago, where the color is blackish.

nice, improving na, are there lots of waterlilies ba yun?:dunno: floating, or nabawasan na? Less trash or none at all?

Tanung lang po, how deep is pasig river, kasi may nakita akong pic dito date na may horse na nagpapass near jones bridge. Looks like 3 ft sa area na yun...

richard24

February 22nd, 2007, 12:19 PM

merong mga basura.....pero di na ganun ka dami, like 10 or so years ago.. pero if you go sa san juan river, (lalo na ung sa tabi ng UERM at CCP... super duper puno ng basura... and to think na connected un sa pasig river.,.. they should do something about that river...

KiBeN

February 22nd, 2007, 12:49 PM

medyo OT. once nung vinisit namin yung house ng greatgrandmother ko sa navotas, the river was kinda browny, with little trash, tas may U/C na flood control thingy.

Kwento ng mga lola, super linis daw talaga nung panahon ng parents ko, more trees, less buildings, cleaner rivers, more fishes, iba yung smell ng Navotas nung araw until karamihan sa kanila nagmigrate sa ibang bansa/lumipat sa ibang exclusive sub. kapitbahay ko nga taga-Navotas din e.:)

pero nag-improve naman ang Navotas ngayun:) Mas luminis

Bosnyboy

February 22nd, 2007, 12:51 PM

I live beside the pasig river and during rainy season there are ppl hu actually take fishing rod and catches huge imelda fish. Some of them more than 2 feet long. They then sell these fish to motorists. Unfortunately one of our frens hu tasted the fish sed it taste aweful. Maybe becoz they duno how to cook it. I really duno. Btw i live near escolta

ishtefh_03

February 22nd, 2007, 03:03 PM

^^ siguro dahil na rin sa river yun kaya ibang lasa ng fish... like may ibang fish sa may mga palaisdaan na lasang putik na yung iba...:D

Lili

February 22nd, 2007, 05:43 PM

TheAvenger

February 22nd, 2007, 06:16 PM

Pls note that I completed posting some photos of Manila in the
below thread. More photos of Pasig River and vicinity in the thread
Intramuros.

Ciudad Murada: Intramuros de Manila v.2
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=11842717#post11842717

MANILA, My MANILA - Tradition and Modernity - T9
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=416098&page=18

TheAvenger

February 22nd, 2007, 06:49 PM

nice, improving na, are there lots of waterlilies ba yun?:dunno: floating, or nabawasan na? Less trash or none at all?

Tanung lang po, how deep is pasig river, kasi may nakita akong pic dito date na may horse na nagpapass near jones bridge. Looks like 3 ft sa area na yun...

Siguro yaong horse nag swi swimming lang.
depth of Pasig River about 21 feet

Not seen any waterlillies from the area of Quiapo to Del Pan.

Quote from Phil Star
" A major project is the dredging of the Pasig River from its current depth of 5.5 meters, including reclamation of land. The Belgian government is reportedly interested in the project. A water quality enhancement project is also in the works with aid from the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank. "

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=67173

FrancisXavier

February 23rd, 2007, 05:37 AM

Siguro yaong horse nag swi swimming lang.
depth of Pasig River about 21 feet

Not seen any waterlillies from the area of Quiapo to Del Pan.

Quote from Phil Star
" A major project is the dredging of the Pasig River from its current depth of 5.5 meters, including reclamation of land. The Belgian government is reportedly interested in the project. A water quality enhancement project is also in the works with aid from the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank. "

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=67173

parang i also saw that horse kiben was refering too.. if im not mistaken, nasa "then and now" thread yun..:)

IsaRic

February 23rd, 2007, 05:53 AM

i remember when we went to Manila in 1997 ...in a car and we passed through a bridge, and i asked my dad, "What's that smell?" ...apparently, it was the pasig river. I dont remember what bridge it was, but yah, that was the first and only time ive seen this body of water... so... does it still smell today?

Lili

February 23rd, 2007, 06:20 AM

parang i also saw that horse kiben was refering too.. if im not mistaken, nasa "then and now" thread yun..:)

Yes, that was originally in the "Then and Now" thread posted by @TheCameraReturns. That vintage photo taken in the 1900s (?) was from the University of Michigan archives. It was reposted on the 1st page of this thread and the original Pasig River thread.

Perhaps during that time (1900s), the river was shallow.

FrancisXavier

February 23rd, 2007, 06:24 AM

TheAvenger

February 23rd, 2007, 06:38 AM

eto yun..thanks for the info ate lili..

some parts of the river must not really be deep.. unless this horse has 2 storey high legs.:D

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/bridgespain1902horse-mrk.jpg

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Manila

From Classic Encyclodpedia of 1911 -
Pasig River was dredged up 18 feet up to Bridge of Spain, and up to 6 feet
from Bridge of Spain to Laguna de Bay.

Many improvements have been made in and about the city since the American occupation in 1898. The small tramcars drawn by native ponies have been replaced by a modern American electric street-railway service, and the railway service to and from other towns on the island of Luzon has been extended; in 1908, 267 m. were open to traffic and 400 m. were under construction. Connected with Manila by electric railway is Fort William McKinley, a U.S. army post in the hills five miles away, quartering about 3000 men.

The scheme for dredging some of the esteros in order to make them more navigable and for filling in others has been in part executed. But the greatest improvement affecting transportation is the construction of a safe and deep harbour. Although Manila Bay is nearly landlocked, it is so large that in times of strong winds it becomes nearly as turbulent as the open sea, and it was formerly so shallow that vessels drawing more than 16 ft. could approach no nearer than two miles to the shore, where typhoons of the southwest monsoon not infrequently obliged them to lie several days before they could be unloaded. Two long jetties or breakwaters have now been constructed, about 350 acres of harbour area have been dredged to a depth of 30 ft., and two wharves of steel and concrete, one 600 ft. long and 70 ft. wide, and the other 650 ft. long and iBD ft. wide, were in process of construction in 1909.

The Pasig river has been dredged up to the Bridge of Spain to a depth of 18 ft. and from the Bridge of Spain to Laguna de Bay to a depth of 6 ft.

The construction of the harbour was begun about 1880 by the Spanish government, but the work was less than one-third completed when the Americans took possession.

Among other American improvements were: an efficient fire department, a sewer system whereby the sewage by means of pumps is discharged into the bay more than a mile from the shore; a system of gravity waterworks (1908) whereby the city's water supply is taken from the Mariquina river about 23 m. from the city into a storage reservoir which has a capacity of 2,000,000,000 gallons and is 212 ft. above the sea; the extension of the Luneta, the principal pleasure-ground; a boulevard for several miles along the bay; a botanical garden; and new market buildings.

Aragon

February 23rd, 2007, 06:39 AM

teka lang bakit na hiwalay ang philippine forums sa other asian forums

FrancisXavier

February 23rd, 2007, 06:46 AM

isnt it great?LOLS.. dami na kasi cguro natin...hehe

Sinjin P.

February 23rd, 2007, 06:48 AM

teka lang bakit na hiwalay ang philippine forums sa other asian forums

Read the whole story here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=306933 :cool:

reggiedoc

February 23rd, 2007, 06:49 AM

http://balitapinoy.net/clients/balitapinoy/ARROYOPASIG1.jpg

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pours a bottle of champagne at the body of a ferryboat during the formal launching of the Pasig River Ferry Service Wednesday (February 14) at Malacanang Golf Clubhouse in Malago, Malacanang Park, Manila. Also in photo is Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza (right of the President). (Rey Baniquet-OPS-NIB)

TheAvenger

February 23rd, 2007, 06:59 AM

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/page20.htm

The River and the Sea: Bridges, Ports and Lighthouses

Manila has always looked out over the sea, and this is its raison d'être. Its livelihood depended on the ships that came and went. It is a maritime city. Its river has both limited and united it.
It was always difficult for large ships to tie up near the city, and for this reason Cavite was used for centuries as the port of the Philippine capital.

Sandbanks built up at the river mouth, making navigation dangerous; channelling dikes were built in the mid 18th century. Much later, in 1881, the first project for a port in Manila was drawn up. The latest advances in methods and techniques for port construction were used in it.

The Pasig River and its creek channels are the great communication routes for Manila. The islands they form also give definition to the different districts that are growing up, while the river separates the Intramuros precinct from its northern banks. Bridges connect all parts of the city. At the end of the 19th century, the Port Works Board draws up a general plan for channelling the waterways in order to improve fluvial communications.

Until well into the 19th century, the "Puente Grande" was the first and only bridge to be built. After the 1863 earthquake, a new bridge replaced it in 1875. This had eight arches - the two middle ones were built of iron - and was named the "Puente de España". The second to be built was called the Clavería bridge.

This was a suspension bridge and was a landmark on the urban landscape of Manila; it linked Quiapo with the Arroceros district and was opened to the public in 1852. A third construction, the Ayala bridge was built in two separate sections; it crossed the river at Convalecencia island and was opened in 1880.

Marine traffic in the bay increased heavily during the second half of the 19th century. It was at this time that the construction of lighthouses began. Examples of this are the San Nicolás lighthouse and those built on Corregidor Island, all of which were constructed in accordance with the latest advances in European technology.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/PuentedeEspanaa1.jpg

The "Puente de España" over the Pasig River in Manila. Casto Olano in Colección de planos... 1876. BETSICCP, Madrid After the destruction of the "Puente Grande" , a project was drawn up for an eight-arch combined construction: the two central arches had wider spans, were low, and were built from iron, the remaining six arches being built from quarried stone.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/p20ima2.jpg

The "Concepción" portion of the Convalecencia bridge in Manila. Eduardo López Navarro in Colección de planos correspondientes a varias de las construcciones realizadas o proyectadas por la Inspección General de Obras Públicas de las Islas Filipinas. 1876. BETSICCP, Madrid The Ayala bridge, as it was also known, crossed the river in two independent sections that converged on Convalecencia Island. Each of these sections was formed by three low arches and a lower platform, all of which were timber-built.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/p20ima3-1.jpg

View of the "Puente de España", built after the 1863 earthquake. Álbum fotográfico... End of the 19th century. BN The metallic parts of the "Puente de España" - the central arches, the balustrades and the candelabra - were imported from France, this being organized by José Echeverría, the Spanish engineer posted there.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/SuspensionBridge.jpg

View of the suspension bridge in the city of Manila. Álbum fotográfico... Late 19th century. BN The suspension bridge was constructed by private enterprise which operated it on a toll basis. The project was drawn up by the French engineer M. Gabaud.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/p20ima5.jpg

The Ayala bridge between Convalecencia island and the Concepción district collapsed in this year. La Ilustración Española y Americana, 1890. BN Although scarcely ten years had passed since it was opened, by 1889 the Ayala bridge was in a dangerous condition. That year, the section between the island and the San Miguel district collapsed, and only a few months later the Concepción section followed suit.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/ViewofPasigriver.jpg

View of the Pasig River and the stone-built "Puente Grande", before the 1863 earthquake. Fernando Brambila. Collection of drawings and engravings made on the Malaspina Expedition. 1789-1794. MN Built in the first half of the 17th century, and until the suspension bridge was opened, the "Puente Grande" was the only bridge crossing the Pasig River. In 1814, the wooden roadway was replaced with masonry arches.

.

TheAvenger

February 23rd, 2007, 07:07 AM

teka lang bakit na hiwalay ang philippine forums sa other asian forums

Because according to my other Asian friends a long time ago, Filipinos were
not Asians. We are aliens in Asia ..... he he he

Lili

February 23rd, 2007, 05:55 PM

^^ Wonderfully researched contribution on the bridges over Pasig River, @TheAvenger. :applause:

metrosuburban

February 23rd, 2007, 06:34 PM

Because according to my other Asian friends a long time ago, Filipinos were
not Asians. We are aliens in Asia ..... he he he

naks naman, hiwalay na tayu sa Asia, pati UAE pala hiwalay na sa Middle East. :banana:

crappypants

February 23rd, 2007, 08:28 PM

Because according to my other Asian friends a long time ago, Filipinos were
not Asians. We are aliens in Asia ..... he he he

what did they say we were?

TheAvenger

February 23rd, 2007, 09:00 PM

what did they say we were?

Well, it was long time ago when a friend of mine a Singaporean Indian was
telling me that it was the perceptions of many Asians that Filipinos were
quite different from the rest of Asians. Since our traditions were more to
the West.

Then some Singaporeans Chinese and Malays perceptions of Filipinos that time that we were all Eurasians owing to Spanish heritage.

Then when I was sailing before with Europeans like Dutch and Yoguslavian
they told me the same thing, Pinoy live in Asia but different from other Asians.

In my belief we neither belongs to the mystical East or the imperialist West...
:)

Anyhow in some books they said that not only we have Malays and Chinese
blood but we have also Polynesian blood.

And later some Pinoys were mixed with Spanish and American blood. And because of of 2 decades ago mail order brides, OFW, and Global Pinoy phenomenon, I guess 50 years from now we will have a new look ... a Global race..... :lol: that is neither Asians nor whatever.

TheAvenger

February 23rd, 2007, 09:04 PM

^^ Wonderfully researched contribution on the bridges over Pasig River, @TheAvenger. :applause:

@Lili thanks my dear. you are welcome.

btw I guess @crappypants is my dear Marites ?

Askal82

February 24th, 2007, 02:30 AM

Filipinos are cosmopolitan in nature. We are neither here nor there but a mixture of both with a tinge of 'our' own that defines the culture.

OtAkAw

February 24th, 2007, 11:23 AM

^^That's why it is so easy for "some" foreigners to discriminate us.

Bosnyboy

February 25th, 2007, 03:28 AM

@Lili, errr il try to take a pic if i chance upon them. Imelda fish is called such becoz twas the former ex first lady who thought of populating the river with this excellent fish during her reign. The fish really came from China, inhabiting the mighty yellow river. The fish can grow to great sizes and are hardy. It has white meat and quite fleshy. Usually great ingridients for hotpots or plain steamed. It resembles a very large carp. Gray/yellow in color

Lili

February 25th, 2007, 08:19 AM

Mango

February 25th, 2007, 02:09 PM

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/LIFESTYLE200702253304.htm
The Love Boats return
CITY SENSE By Paulo Alcazaren
The Philippine STAR 02/24/2007

Decades ago, in the magical, mystical era of martial law, Metro Manila had a rational metropolitan master plan with a proposed integrated light rail and air-conditioned bus mass transit system. The vision was for a City of Man,・one that was people-centered.

The first line of the LRT was constructed and operational before most of our ASEAN neighbors, like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore had theirs. Our "Love Buses" made road travel on EDSA seem like a luxury ride compared to the lawanit-sided, suspension-less, diesel-stenched JD, MD and G-Liner buses of the Sixties and early Seventies. There were even double-decker buses like those in London and Tokyo. (These buses were made in Japan ・remember the signs beside the buzzers, "Push bell when get off"?).

Completing the system later in that era were water-borne boat-buses, christened "Love Boats." The whole, road, rail and river ferry system was a magnificent idea that, if it had been completed, would have put Metro Manila in the forefront of world-class cities in terms of urban transport.

Sadly, only one line of the LRT was built to service the metropolis until the end of the century. The Love Bus system fell into disrepair (the double-deckers disappeared). The water taxis・propellers got caught up in debris so frequently that the system stopped. A revival in the early post-martial law days hit the same snags (literally) and likewise ground to a halt.

A decade and a much cleaner Pasig River later (thanks to Piso Para sa Pasig, the Clean and Green Movement and foreign-funded initiatives), the Love Boats have appeared again to bring river transport to Metro Manila. The current Pasig River Ferry Project is a project of the National Government, with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), the MMDA, the DOTC, the LGUs of Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, and Marikina, the PPA and the DENR, the Asian Development Bank and Unilever (representing the private sector) are involved.

The system is projected to eventually carry 28,000 passengers daily. Planned are a total of 15 stations at fairly regular intervals along a string of new riverside linear parks constructed by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. Each station is also air-conditioned with waiting rooms, toilets, snack bars and payphones (for the few Filipinos who don't have cell phones). Six have already been built or are near completion while four more are planned for the year. Three ferries are built (by a local company using Australian know-how) with another three on the way and more planned.

The system was launched recently. I joined the convoy of three spanking new 150-passenger twin-hulled ferries on the inaugural ride from Malacañang to Guadalupe last Valentines Day. The ride was super smooth and fast (top speeds are 23 mph ・faster than the average road traffic in Metro Manila). There was no smell from the river. There's a bar on board, music, full life-saving equipment and clean seats. Docking at the stations was quick and easy. Plus, there is no traffic! Travel by river ferry will eventually cut transit time for commuters to half of what it takes on land. Fares will also eventually be a tad less than FXs and PUJs, plus did I mention no traffic?

The passing views are generally good because of the PRRC's park projects and the long-ongoing river cleaning programs initiated by Clean and Green and the former First Lady Amelita Ramos. Sadly, billboards are visible even from the boats and garbage from informal settlers accumulates in certain spots despite continuous reminders to LGUs to police their barangays.

The river ferry system will provide a great alternative for commuters. Fifteen kilometers on the Marikina River connect to 27 kilometers of the main Pasig line to create links that can get you from Riverbanks in Marikina to shopping in Chinatown without changing rides or the inconvenience of crossing streets.

The potential for the river rides extends to tourism as the routes pass several historic sites in central Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Taguig and along the Marikina River. My friend, the walking tour king Carlos Celdran, could do a river tour showcasing palaces, old sites of tobacco, rum and rope making, the old Makati quarry sites for stone that was used to build Intramuros and a dozen other historic sites from the pre-Spanish, Spanish and American eras. The bridges along the Pasig have also several interesting stories to tell. The Pasig can become a channel to the past and a new way to see the city.

The potential for an even larger transport network is possible. Talks are underway with the Laguna Lake Development Authority to do a study on the feasibility of linking the system with towns along the lake, just like in the Spanish and early American era, when the lake and river were the main highways of travel.

All this is great news. However, I would like to see some intent (and action) from authorities to better link the ferry stations to the bus and LRT/MRT terminals. For example, the Guadalupe ferry station, which is now open, needs an all-weather pedestrian link to the MRT terminal over 200 meters away. This lack of linkages, at the road and pedestrian scale, bugs our other modes of public travel. Look at how bad pedestrian access is to most of our train stations from the road and in between LRTs and MRTs. Bus, FX and jeepney terminal linkages are almost non-existent except for a few private developments (and some isolated attempts by the MMDA).

Still, all in all, the revival of the ferry system is good news. Hey, what happened to the San Juan River? * * *
Feedback is welcome. Please e-mail the writer at paulo.alcazaren@gmail.com.

venntro

February 26th, 2007, 08:12 AM

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/LIFESTYLE200702253304.htm
The Love Boats return
CITY SENSE By Paulo Alcazaren
The Philippine STAR 02/24/2007

The potential for the river rides extends to tourism as the routes pass several historic sites in central Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Taguig and along the Marikina River. My friend, the walking tour king Carlos Celdran, could do a river tour showcasing palaces, old sites of tobacco, rum and rope making, the old Makati quarry sites for stone that was used to build Intramuros and a dozen other historic sites from the pre-Spanish, Spanish and American eras. The bridges along the Pasig have also several interesting stories to tell. The Pasig can become a channel to the past and a new way to see the city.

Feedback is welcome. Please e-mail the writer at paulo.alcazaren@gmail.com.

^^ Our ideas for a River Tourism project through Mr. Carlos Celdran has been put in print in Philippine Star at that. Cool!

tigidig14

February 26th, 2007, 08:19 AM

ye we seemed so different from asian
this white dude ask me if im asian or pilipins
i looked at him weird and smirk
i was gonna tell him the story but im not a teacher
so i just told him, im asian and pilipins :lol:

Mango

February 26th, 2007, 10:10 AM

^^ Our ideas for a River Tourism project through Mr. Carlos Celdran has been put in print in Philippine Star at that. Cool!

Exactly! Hope this pushes through, it's like hitting two birds in one stone so to speak, err... make that three...transportation, tourism ang more importantly awareness/education on environmental protection among the masses.:)

Lili

February 26th, 2007, 06:35 PM

^^ Our ideas for a River Tourism project through Mr. Carlos Celdran has been put in print in Philippine Star at that. Cool!

Yes, we have spoken about these things at length. Finally, it is becoming a reality.

More beauty and vitality to Pasig River! :)

Later on, maybe they can have a Mutya ng Pasig contest as some sort of environmental awareness and fund-raising for rehabilitation of Pasig River. Then the pictures of the ladies will be posted in the river boats. They used to have a weekly Miss Subway here in New York in the 1950s. That's an idea.

TheAvenger

February 26th, 2007, 08:08 PM

@ Lili - My Gift to you an Imelda Fish - a coral reef fish.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/Imeldafish-ManilaTimes03Nov2006.jpg

This is posted in Manila Times - Nov. 3, 2006 edition.

.

Lili

February 27th, 2007, 12:47 AM

[dx]

February 27th, 2007, 03:22 AM

I've never heard of an Imelda fish before. I bet this is a voracious, omnivorous feeder. :lol: :jk:

demented_pigeon

February 27th, 2007, 04:01 AM

^^ Oh wow. So, that is an Imelda Fish! If that kind of fish can thrive in the waters of Pasig River, then I think that it is a very good sign of its ecological rehabilitation. Oh, I wrote too soon. It escaped from Laguna Lake during the typhoon. Well, I hope that soon aquatic life will thrive again in the river Pasig as long as there will be no crocodiles or alligators.

That fish looks like a gurame fish.

we can just hope that crocodiles will once again thrive in the pasig river. they used to thrive there all the way to laguna de bay, given that metro manila stands on what was once a huge marshland. We can only hope that the we could recreate the scenario that Rizal wrote in the first chapter of El Fili. Besdides, im not sure if the crocodiles that once lived in the pasig could be related to the philippine crododile or probably a totally different species. Just imagine the hundreds of species that have been lost due to the pollution of the Pasig such as the nilad which manila is named after.

richard24

February 27th, 2007, 11:42 AM

Bosnyboy

February 27th, 2007, 01:20 PM

@Lily Actually this is a yearly phenomenon. Every year during the rainy seasons. Ppl wud actually take their fishing rods and catch some fish in the pasig river. In the montalban area os pasig ppl even used fish nets to catch more fish. Some use electricity to stun the fish.
About the crocodiles well there have been reports of crocodiles seen swimming in the river particularly in the rizal area. In downtown binondo naman ppl usually catch huge phytons (sawa) swimming in the rivers and creeks. These snakes apparently lives inside the sewers and survive on the huge rat population. Ive experienced ppl catching these huge snakes. Some of them get donated to the parks and wildlife conservation office. Some gets sold in restaurants in chinatown and turned to snake soup and other snake dishes.

jgacis

February 27th, 2007, 01:31 PM

^^ Wow, that pasig river is starting to sound a bit too fishy! Sana they will just revitalize it to more tranquil aquatic creatures instead of snakes and crocodiles! :| :runaway:

bonixx

February 27th, 2007, 01:48 PM

Naaalala ko lang sa Pasig River pag Bumabaha madaming nahuhuling isda-yung malalaking Carpa na binebenta sa may tulay ng Guadalupe at malalaking Janitor Fish...it means buhay pa ang Pasig River...Marikina is the cleanest part of Pasig River within Metro manila kasi mataas pa Oxygen sa part na yun.

Lili

February 27th, 2007, 07:32 PM

normandb

February 28th, 2007, 01:41 AM

moved

normandb

February 28th, 2007, 01:50 AM

Pasig River
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9475/manilaaf4.jpg

TheAvenger

February 28th, 2007, 07:54 AM

^^ Our ideas for a River Tourism project through Mr. Carlos Celdran has been put in print in Philippine Star at that. Cool!

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/34054ae5fb2778cd03a3a66a0ef153f71.jpg

I guess Mr. Celdran is wearing a baseball cap.

Lili

February 28th, 2007, 01:24 PM

^ I wonder if those tourists also go to the "manghuhulas" lining up Plaza Miranda.

OtAkAw

February 28th, 2007, 01:48 PM

^^Now that would be interesting!

venntro

March 1st, 2007, 04:12 AM

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/34054ae5fb2778cd03a3a66a0ef153f71.jpg

I guess Mr. Celdran is wearing a baseball cap.

^^ Yup, he's our guy. As I said, if foreign tourists are willing to brave Manila's crowded streets on foot then I see no reason why the tour can't be extended to the Pasig River on board an air-conditioned ferry. Perhaps when they are on board the Pasig river and the slums suddenly come into the picture during the ride, Carlos Celdran will just do some theatrical gig to make the tourists focus on him and not on the slums. I noticed that it is actually a technique used by our tourist guide during the Chao Phraya River cruise in Thailand.

Hope to see a Pasig river tour materialize with Carlos Celdran.

IsaRic

March 1st, 2007, 04:58 AM

^^ Yup, he's our guy. As I said, if foreign tourists are willing to brave Manila's crowded streets on foot then I see no reason why the tour can't be extended to the Pasig River on board an air-conditioned ferry. Perhaps when they are on board the Pasig river and the slums suddenly come into the picture during the ride, Carlos Celdran will just do some theatrical gig to make the tourists focus on him and not on the slums. I noticed that it is actually a technique used by our tourist guide during the Chao Phraya River cruise in Thailand.

Hope to see a Pasig river tour materialize with Carlos Celdran.

Mr. Celdran? I heard he's quite the popular guy...

thomasian

March 3rd, 2007, 08:10 AM

Excuse me but I have a "Frontera Verde" thread in the Prop and U/Cs section, pakilipat na lang dun kuya Manding.

Walang Pasig City thread kaya dito ka na lang ilagay

Entrance to Tiendesitas (Photo by JCC Castro Cruz)
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/159/jcccastrocruzxj7.jpg

ishtefh_03

March 3rd, 2007, 09:15 AM

Mr. Celdran? I heard he's quite the popular guy...

before i watched him at Living Asia... tour rin yun sa quiapo, then pati yung mga meaming nung mga candles inexplain pa nya sa mga foreigner...

Aragon

March 3rd, 2007, 06:26 PM

any actual picture of this ferry plying the river

normandb

March 4th, 2007, 12:14 AM

lipat daw sabi ni Aaron...sana naman ibinigay yong link para mas madali :D

thomasian

March 5th, 2007, 09:36 AM

^^ Ay sorry, nahihilo na rin kasi ako sa SSC so you just help yourself. :D

richard24

March 7th, 2007, 10:59 AM

the PUP station...

still not ready. work is on going... maybe next month......

http://i16.************/2vcjn0h.jpg

thomasian

March 7th, 2007, 02:30 PM

^^ Can you get to that station without passing through PUP?

richard24

March 7th, 2007, 03:59 PM

nope... its inside the campus.

kaya hula ko sa june pa ito bubuksan para maayos nila ang system jan...

thomasian

March 8th, 2007, 07:41 AM

^^ Ha, paano yun? Open campus ba kayo, ala USTe?

tutubi

March 9th, 2007, 11:10 AM

hi to all:

my first post after almost giving up due to registration problems a few weeks back

pictures of people frolicking :)

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/talonsigetalon.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/styroboyscopy.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/styroboy.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/sampayan.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/kiti-kiti.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/deliveryboy.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/boyhubo.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/basecoinformalsmallcopy.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/boybangka.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/boatpeople.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/bangkaboy.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j221/botits/taga-ilog/bangkaboy1.jpg

complete pictures and writeup on these links below:

http://tutubipatrol.blogspot.com/2007/01/historic-cruise-of-pasig-river.html
http://tutubipatrol.blogspot.com/2007/02/parola-of-pasig.html
http://tutubipatrol.blogspot.com/2007/02/structures-on-bank-of-pasig-river.html
http://tutubipatrol.blogspot.com/2007/02/taga-ilogs-of-pasig.html
http://tutubipatrol.blogspot.com/2007/02/grand-bridges-of-pasig.html

thomasian

March 9th, 2007, 12:00 PM

^^ Parang ang sarap mag-swimming, sinong gustong magorganize ng Pasig River summer outing para sa SSC? :D

richard24

March 9th, 2007, 12:27 PM

^^ Ha, paano yun? Open campus ba kayo, ala USTe?

malapit na ata... pero sa ngayon., hindi pa.

demented_pigeon

March 9th, 2007, 12:39 PM

malamang baka pagbukas nung estasyon ng river ferry saka din gagawing open campus yung PUP.

Sinjin P.

March 18th, 2007, 01:22 PM

by jna876 of Flickr

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/424691587_18a9f120ec_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/424689197_0155d5ac3f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/424691658_c1ab09c15e_o.jpg

nayki

March 18th, 2007, 03:37 PM

Finally nakasakay na din ako dun sa ferry yesterday, every hour na pala ang byahe nya, from 5am to 9pm everyday. Sobrang lamig sa loob tsaka maluwag at my TV din. Ang fare 25 pesos from escolta to guadalupe, almost 45mins ung byahe. Nakakatuwa nga eh kahapon may mga nakasabayan kaming mga mukhang businessman tipong mukhang mayayaman talaga, trip lang talaga nila sumakay ng ferry kasi pag dating namin ng guadalupe my naghihintay na sa kanilang chedeng..hehehe post ko na lang sa mga susunod na araw un mga pics kaso cam phone lang..

Lili

March 18th, 2007, 04:59 PM

^^ What a nice experience at @nayki. Did you get to take pictures?

@tutubi and @Jhaelnis: Thanks for sharing those pictures of children and people frolicking in the waters of the Pasig River. I sure hope that the waters are safe enough to take a dip. I see they even used make-shift styrofoam boats. Such simple pleasures.

I hope that since these folks take so much pleasure from the waters, they also understand the need not to pollute them. I see the shanties dotting the peripheries. What is the solution so that their human wastes do not go directly to the waters. They should be empowered as stewards of the waters and the land. Give them a good sewerage system, too, and employ them in maintaining the Pasig River and making it pollution-free.

venntro

March 21st, 2007, 09:34 AM

Are there concrete plans of modernizing the banks of the Pasig river? With all the developments near the Pasig river such as Rockwell and the Robinson's buildings near Pioneer, isn't it about time for the government to at least beautify the banks of the Pasig river?

richard24

March 21st, 2007, 01:00 PM

the escolta station.. (pic taken from the jones bridge (?) )

http://i7.************/35830j6.jpg

i was supposed to ride the ferry., pero last minute, hindi ako tumuloy.., ang mga buwiset na ferry pala a HINDI TUMITIGIL SA LAHAT NG STATION?!?!?
i was supposed to go to Guadalupe station.., pero to my surprise.., WALANG FERRY FROM ESCOLTA ANG TUMITIGIL SA GUADALUPE!?>!?!? bad trip?

per ferry ride.., 3 stations lang ang bababaan...

i wasnt able to take pix sa labas ng ferry station mismo... pero it looks REALLy COOL.. :) so world class.. :)

oboi

March 21st, 2007, 08:40 PM

i was supposed to ride the ferry., pero last minute, hindi ako tumuloy.., ang mga buwiset na ferry pala a HINDI TUMITIGIL SA LAHAT NG STATION?!?!?
i was supposed to go to Guadalupe station.., pero to my surprise.., WALANG FERRY FROM ESCOLTA ANG TUMITIGIL SA GUADALUPE!?>!?!? bad trip?

per ferry ride.., 3 stations lang ang bababaan...

i wasnt able to take pix sa labas ng ferry station mismo... pero it looks REALLy COOL.. :) so world class.. :)

This is a bit of a surprise since we took the ferry from Escolta to Guadalupe the day after it started its operations. As far as I know, all ferries from Escolta go to Guadalupe passingby the stations in Sta. Ana, Manila and Hulo, Mandaluyong. Our ferry docked at these aforementioned stations.

It wasn't our intention to ride the ferry that day. My friends missed their flight due to the long lines at the NAIA-I that Sunday morning and since the next available flight is in the evening we had plenty of time to spare and decided to have some adventures.

From the airport we parked at Glorietta then took the MRT from Ayala to Cubao. We went around there for a bit and decided to ride the LRT-2 to Recto. We walked around Avenida, Quiapo church, the underpass and then the handicrafts stores under the Quezon bridge. The place seems "cleaner" than before. I noticed a new market is being proposed to replace the old dilapidated one. Actually, our plan was to ride all 3 trains but instead decided on the last minute to try the ferry. So from Quezon bridge we strolled to the ferry station at Escolta.

At the ferry station we bought tickets, which came in the form of thermal paper printed with barcode. Seems they're really concerned about security (metal detectors were installed at the entrance of every stations). At the turnstiles, we had our ticket scanned. I wanted to keep the ticket as a souvenir but it was collected upon boarding the ferry.

The ferry is clean and airconditioning is good since it's still new and only a few us are on board (less than twenty passengers). On board are some marines and uniform security officers. The real face of Manila or perhaps the Philippines is seen while cruising through the winding Pasig river. Shanties, garbage and the murky water are all over. The last time I've seen such state was in Smokey Mountain. Couldn't see the garbage but the overwhelming stench of trash is still there.

Our trip wasn't that eventful until I started taking pictures using my camphone at the vicinity of Malacañan Palace. Lo and behold, like a speeding bullet, a marine officer went to me and reprimanded me for taking pictures of the area since it's a restricted area. I had to delete the pictures right in front of him but at least he was courteous. Afterwhich, another officer went to me and apologized for not informing us of such restrictions around the area of Malacañan.

It took us about an hour to get to Guadalupe since we got caught up in some traffic along the river. Who said that traffic delays are only found on the road? Our ferry had to give way to some barges while traversing the narrow bends of the river. Getting off at Guadalupe we took a cab to Glorietta then to the airport.

Though the river cruise was fun, I noticed some lapses: pre-departure SOP such as instructing the passengers on how to put on life jackets and where to find them (noticed none were under the seats but are found in the cabinets at the back of the ferry); directions to the exits and other instructions in case of emergency; and informing the passengers about the security protocol imposed around Malacañan weren't done.

I'll probably take the ferry next week and I'll bring my camera this time. Picture taking is allowed except around Malacañan Palace. This time I'll ask the officers on board if it's safe for me to take pictures or not. :)

BoNduRanT

March 21st, 2007, 08:50 PM

^^ Nakakita ako nyan last week. It looks nice, kakaiba kasi compared to the usual barges and thug boats na nakikita natin.

venntro

March 22nd, 2007, 03:54 AM

richard24

March 22nd, 2007, 10:52 AM

This is a bit of a surprise since we took the ferry from Escolta to Guadalupe the day after it started its operations. As far as I know, all ferries from Escolta go to Guadalupe passingby the stations in Sta. Ana, Manila and Hulo, Mandaluyong. Our ferry docked at these aforementioned stations.

It wasn't our intention to ride the ferry that day. My friends missed their flight due to the long lines at the NAIA-I that Sunday morning and since the next available flight is in the evening we had plenty of time to spare and decided to have some adventures.

From the airport we parked at Glorietta then took the MRT from Ayala to Cubao. We went around there for a bit and decided to ride the LRT-2 to Recto. We walked around Avenida, Quiapo church, the underpass and then the handicrafts stores under the Quezon bridge. The place seems "cleaner" than before. I noticed a new market is being proposed to replace the old dilapidated one. Actually, our plan was to ride all 3 trains but instead decided on the last minute to try the ferry. So from Quezon bridge we strolled to the ferry station at Escolta.

At the ferry station we bought tickets, which came in the form of thermal paper printed with barcode. Seems they're really concerned about security (metal detectors were installed at the entrance of every stations). At the turnstiles, we had our ticket scanned. I wanted to keep the ticket as a souvenir but it was collected upon boarding the ferry.

The ferry is clean and airconditioning is good since it's still new and only a few us are on board (less than twenty passengers). On board are some marines and uniform security officers. The real face of Manila or perhaps the Philippines is seen while cruising through the winding Pasig river. Shanties, garbage and the murky water are all over. The last time I've seen such state was in Smokey Mountain. Couldn't see the garbage but the overwhelming stench of trash is still there.

Our trip wasn't that eventful until I started taking pictures using my camphone at the vicinity of Malacañan Palace. Lo and behold, like a speeding bullet, a marine officer went to me and reprimanded me for taking pictures of the area since it's a restricted area. I had to delete the pictures right in front of him but at least he was courteous. Afterwhich, another officer went to me and apologized for not informing us of such restrictions around the area of Malacañan.

It took us about an hour to get to Guadalupe since we got caught up in some traffic along the river. Who said that traffic delays are only found on the road? Our ferry had to give way to some barges while traversing the narrow bends of the river. Getting off at Guadalupe we took a cab to Glorietta then to the airport.

Though the river cruise was fun, I noticed some lapses: pre-departure SOP such as instructing the passengers on how to put on life jackets and where to find them (noticed none were under the seats but are found in the cabinets at the back of the ferry); directions to the exits and other instructions in case of emergency; and informing the passengers about the security protocol imposed around Malacañan weren't done.

I'll probably take the ferry next week and I'll bring my camera this time. Picture taking is allowed except around Malacañan Palace. This time I'll ask the officers on board if it's safe for me to take pictures or not. :)

ang mga sked ng rides naka post nalang sa labas... 3 stations lang talaga ang tinitigilan niya... although i didnt bother to ask. nag LRT nalang ako pauwi... hehehe.. :) joy ride sana ako sa ferry to guadalupe then to MRt guadalupe then to cubao LRT2 to santolan lrt2..... sayang...

yung mga ferries from escolta, ang last station ay Hulo... hindi ko alam kung saang lugar un eh... baka mawala ako.. hehehe...

oboi

March 23rd, 2007, 01:41 PM

ang mga sked ng rides naka post nalang sa labas... 3 stations lang talaga ang tinitigilan niya... although i didnt bother to ask. nag LRT nalang ako pauwi... hehehe.. :) joy ride sana ako sa ferry to guadalupe then to MRt guadalupe then to cubao LRT2 to santolan lrt2..... sayang...

yung mga ferries from escolta, ang last station ay Hulo... hindi ko alam kung saang lugar un eh... baka mawala ako.. hehehe...

I just rode the ferry again today from ESCOLTA and it brought me all the way to GUADALUPE. Perhaps you should have asked the people there at the station. As of the moment, the ferry's operation isn't in full swing yet so what's posted outside are the future schedule of the ferry. Just in case you might end up in Hulo, Hulo Station is in Mandaluyong and very close to the Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge. Sometimes, it doesn't hurt to ask... ;)

richard24

March 23rd, 2007, 03:21 PM

^^ thanks for the info...:) sakay ako pag tapos na lahat ng work sa school.. :)

dudz

March 23rd, 2007, 06:21 PM

sakay ka na richard. ako sa gabi ako nakakasakay, going home na, para relax, di nagmamadali, either the 15th or 16th trip papunta escolta. oboi1 already provided us the details of the trip. may lift sila sa mga station in case mahirapan bumaba sa loading platform ang mga pasahero especially the elders and disabled. medyo matarik ang ramp going to the platform lalo na kung low tide. here's the sked...pareho lang siguro sila ng upstream (from escolta) trips.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/DSC_0011.jpg

richard24

March 23rd, 2007, 06:57 PM

dudz

March 23rd, 2007, 07:13 PM

kung manggagaling ka ng cubao, pag-cross ng pasig river makikita mo na ang ferry station sa left. you won't miss it. the same ang designs ng mga stations. naiba lang ang sa intramuros. from the mrt guadalupe station, more or less 200 meter walk to the ferry station. the ferry doesn't stay long sa last stations (escolta and guadalupe). from arrival to departure, 5 minutes lang siguro, the most is 10. sa mga stations in between, 1 minute lang siguro. pagwalang bababa o sasakay, skip na nila yung station.

Lili

March 23rd, 2007, 07:21 PM

^^ The ferry vessel looks modern but unfortunately the backdrop is not. The next thing perhaps is to improve the surroundings to make it truly world class and encourage more people to ride the ferry. Also, there should be links to the other modes of transportation like the MRT for example.

I think our vision of having a revitalized, clean and beautiful Pasig River is coming into fruition. The ferry rides plying the route is a step in this direction because the river, the vicinity and the views will soon be cleaned up and beautified.

le Reine

March 24th, 2007, 06:33 AM

^^ i'll try it next week or the week after that... super siksik sked eh... sayang... gusto ko talaga i try since konti palang sumasakay.. :)

question po.., malapit lang ba ung guadalupe MRT sa guadalupe ferry station? thanks.. :)

Medyo malapit. Mahaba nga lang ang lalakarin mo. Dadaan ka pa dun may park dun at tsaka sa Guadalupe Commercial Center

Aragon

March 24th, 2007, 02:53 PM

richard24

March 24th, 2007, 06:06 PM

thanks for the info guys... :) sasakay ako after ng mga gagawin sa school... :)

venntro

March 26th, 2007, 07:21 AM

There's an Inquirer article yesterday on the Pasig ferry system. They even interviewed some Caucasian tourists who boarded the ferry.

nayki

March 26th, 2007, 02:05 PM

^^ano kaya sabi nila sa mga lumulutang na basura...hehehe mgandang part nung ferry system ay ung pag malapit na sha sa guadalupe.

tyronne

March 27th, 2007, 07:27 PM

Sa unang tingin, parang laruan hehe! Pero maganda siya:okay:

ryanr

March 27th, 2007, 07:57 PM

I'm impressed, the ferry looks pretty cool...kinda like the ones they have in Paris albeit smaller.

venntro

March 28th, 2007, 04:44 AM

According to the Inquirer article, ferry personnel prohibit the passengers from taking photographs of Malacanang for security reasons.

[dx]

March 30th, 2007, 03:40 AM

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/439025442_a9e9901435_b.jpg
Photo by Gabriele de Benedittis (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jomme/sets/72157600035066890/)

tyronne

March 30th, 2007, 06:04 AM

^^Mukhang improving na talaga ang kalagayan ng Pasig River 'no? Anong meron dyan sa mga barges na yan, dex? :D

venntro

March 30th, 2007, 06:17 AM

^^ Those are the barges which carry fuel for the Pandacan depot or the LPG depot in Pasig.

tyronne

March 30th, 2007, 06:28 AM

^^Oh ok. Thanks:)

flymordecai

March 30th, 2007, 07:47 AM

Has the Pasig River really improved that much in the past few years? Hopefully it's true.

crappypants

March 30th, 2007, 07:51 AM

IsaRic

March 30th, 2007, 07:59 AM

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/439025442_a9e9901435_b.jpg
Photo by Gabriele de Benedittis (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jomme/sets/72157600035066890/)

looking good...

reminds me of chicago river crossing dowtown chicago... except is scaled down... and the river is brown lol.

anyways, maybe in 5-10 years time, pasig will regain full life :)

Insanedriver

March 30th, 2007, 08:24 AM

Lili

March 30th, 2007, 03:49 PM

it has improved comapred in the 80s. i heard also in the news that mmda are putting cameras along pasig banks to catch the people throwing garbage on the river. i can't believe these people blatantly throwing their trash in the river. pestilence to everyone.

That is a pretty interesting development. Well, they have to complement that with efficient garbage collection, adequate receptacles along the river banks and parks, and appropriate sewage system.

Those industries lining up the Pasig River should be regularly monitored if they have efficient waste water treatment facilities and the Pollution Adjudication Board should mete out the appropriate sanctions to erring pollutants. No more settlements, unless the settlement adequately addresses the pollution issues and makes the industry real and effective partners in making the Pasig River a beautiful and clean river.

venntro

March 31st, 2007, 04:52 AM

^^ That's good news but more than catching those people throwing garbage, I think they should do some infrastructure development in the area. Remember that most of the garbage along Pasig river are thrown at night and I seriously doubt that MMDA cameras are suited for night vision.

[dx]

March 31st, 2007, 05:05 AM

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7011/402077250f195a381bdsb0.jpg
Pasig River Ferry Terminal
Photo by Mariano Sayno

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/418618991_3879d57471_o.jpg
Terminal
Photo by Oggie Ramos

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/418618992_e1a174812d_o.jpg
Pasig Ferry Interiors
Photo by Oggie Ramos

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/400112178_7533772c4b_o.jpg
Guadalupe Terminal
Photo by mrbinondo

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/395395735_1b540e9f28_o.jpg
Photo by mrbinondo

demented_pigeon

March 31st, 2007, 05:09 AM

^^ dumarami ba ang mga sumasakay sa river ferry service?

JustHorace

March 31st, 2007, 05:22 AM

Wow! I'm loving this ferry service! Beautiful!

tyronne

March 31st, 2007, 05:46 AM

Very nice:okay: Okay naman yung terminal kahit maliit. Tsaka dami rin pala pwedeng isakay dyan sa isang ferry. Maganda:applause:

venntro

March 31st, 2007, 05:52 AM

^^ :banana: The facilities look very modern and so clean-looking. Hope they can maintain that for years to come.:applause:

Aragon

March 31st, 2007, 06:20 AM

wow naman....ganda a

Insanedriver

March 31st, 2007, 08:42 AM

Hindi ba mabaho yung river?
and btw... Ilan yung ferry nila? isa lang?

Lili

March 31st, 2007, 01:24 PM

Really nice Pasig River ferry station and ferry.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/418618992_e1a174812d_o.jpg
Pasig Ferry Interiors
Photo by Oggie Ramos

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/395395735_1b540e9f28_o.jpg
Photo by mrbinondo

They actually remind me of when I took a ferry ride over the Seine River in Paris.

OtAkAw

March 31st, 2007, 01:27 PM

It's a good thing that they thought of such a nice idea.

dudz

March 31st, 2007, 05:19 PM

i have just taken some photos of the ferry from the banks of the river. may amoy pa rin and ilog pero di na katulad nung dati. di na rin nagiging itim ang kulay ng tubig. hopefully it continues to improve.

nakakatuwang panoorin while it is cruising the pasig river. i even saw two tourists standing in front of the ferry outside the cabin with videocams! i'm not sure if that is allowed (staying outside). maybe they have some sort of a permit. here are the pics...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/DSC_0009.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/DSC_0010n.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/DSC_0028-1.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/DSC_0031-1.jpg

tyronne

March 31st, 2007, 05:29 PM

^^Ganda!

Paano pala yung pagti-take ng pictures? Allowed ba or pagbabawalan ka rin? Kasi di ba dadaan to sa Malacanang?

Sana meron ding route palabas ng Manila Bay papuntang SM MOA lol:lol:

dudz

March 31st, 2007, 05:33 PM

^^ dumarami ba ang mga sumasakay sa river ferry service? ang na-notice ko sa mga late afternoon trips, pag upstream (papuntang guadalupe) maraming sakay. lalo na kanina, siguro half full yung ferry. pag papuntang escolta, konte lang. karamihan pa eh joyride. ilang beses na rin ako nakagamit ng ferry, may nakakasabay pa ako mga balikbayan with their families.

dudz

March 31st, 2007, 05:38 PM

^^Ganda!

Paano pala yung pagti-take ng pictures? Allowed ba or pagbabawalan ka rin? Kasi di ba dadaan to sa Malacanang?

Sana meron ding route palabas ng Manila Bay papuntang SM MOA lol:lol:pwede magtake ng pix, pagdadaan na ng malacañang, lalabas yung isang crew para iremind na bawal muna magtake ng photos. salamat ty. (inaayos ko pa signature ko :D)

Aragon

March 31st, 2007, 05:42 PM

ang na-notice ko sa mga late afternoon trips, pag upstream (papuntang guadalupe) maraming sakay. lalo na kanina, siguro half full yung ferry. pag papuntang escolta, konte lang. karamihan pa eh joyride. ilang beses na rin ako nakagamit ng ferry, may nakakasabay pa ako mga balikbayan with their families.

wow.....this is actually a very nice idea bec most major cities naman may ferry talaga....

nilinis kaya nila kaya less ang amoy?

dudz

March 31st, 2007, 06:09 PM

^^i don't know if there are some dredging/cleaning in some parts of the river. wala naman akong napansin ganitong ginagawa sa dinadaanan ng ferry except those mechanized trash removal systems (forgot what they are called) in some areas, may gumagana pa naman yata. ang alam ko marami na ring mga squatter areas along the banks and esteros ang narelocate na. di na rin siguro nagtatapon ng basura sa ilog ang mga tao. may mga factories pa rin pero konte na lang. trees are being planted along the redeveloped banks. hindi na rin nagiging stagnant ang tubig. nakakatulong ang paminsan-minsang pag-ulan. hopefully tuloy-tuloy na talaga ito. :)

le Reine

March 31st, 2007, 06:13 PM

crappypants

March 31st, 2007, 09:56 PM

oboi

March 31st, 2007, 10:07 PM

^^Ganda!

Paano pala yung pagti-take ng pictures? Allowed ba or pagbabawalan ka rin? Kasi di ba dadaan to sa Malacanang?

Sana meron ding route palabas ng Manila Bay papuntang SM MOA lol:lol:

Picture taking is only prohibited when the ferry is nearing the vicinity of Malacañan Palace and Malacañan Park and Garden (located at the other side of the river). I've experience it when I took shots of Malacañan Palace.

nayki

April 1st, 2007, 04:01 AM

Kahit pag gamit ng mga camera phones bawal kahit na magtetext ka lang sisitain ka ng guard...ganon sila kahigpit pag asa vicinity na ng Malacanang. Nung sumakay ako may nakipag talo pang passenger sa guard kasi pinagbawalan shang gumamit ng cp nya na may camera kahit nagtetext lang sha.

[dx]

April 1st, 2007, 04:10 AM

excellent update sir dudz! I hope this ferry thing will spur the re***al and redevelopment of the Pasig riverfront.

venntro

April 2nd, 2007, 07:12 AM

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/manila/DSC_0010n.jpg

Wow, the roof is so near the bridge. What if the water level goes a little bit higher, especially during the rainy months? Will it hit the bridge?

thomasian

April 2nd, 2007, 01:24 PM

Wow, the roof is so near the bridge. What if the water level goes a little bit higher, especially during the rainy months? Will it hit the bridge?

The center span of the bridge is higher than the two other on the sides. I don't think there will be any problem on that.

reggiedoc

April 3rd, 2007, 02:28 AM

I am just so encouraged to see all these developments that is spurring this Pasig Renaissance!!!! And you guys out there witnessing the transformation, keep up the good work of updating us with photos!!!!

Thank you at sana'y the public will have this heightened awareness and social consciousness to do their share of reviving Ilog Pasig.

Maybe ask the MMDA to go after those who litter the river so it will bring attention to the masses and also play audio reminders for the ferry passengers that polluting the river with trash of any kind is an offense (just like the airline stewardess reminding their passengers that smoking is prohibited in lavatories). This constant reminding should somehow create the consciousness that will gradually reinforce positive behavior. Mayor Atienza, MMDA and the ferry management what do you think po?

reggiedoc

April 3rd, 2007, 03:33 AM

26 February 2007
European ambassadors visit ADB's Metro Manila projects

The ambassadors from Belgium, France and Italy (http://www.adb.org/Documents/Periodicals/PhCO/Newsletter/images/mar07-01.jpg) ride the new Pasig River ferry service which was financed under the Pasig River Environmental Management and Rehabilitation Sector Development Program of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). ADB funded the ferry stations that will initially serve two 150-seat, air-conditioned ferries. From left (first row) are Patrick Pillon, ADB Executive Director; Ambassador Gérard Chesnel, France; Atty. Zoilo Andin Jr., deputy director, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission; (second row) Ambassador Grégoire Vardakis, Belgium; and Ambassador Rubens Fedele, Italy. The ambassadors also visited a resettlement housing and a materials recovery facility at the former Smokey Mountain garbage site and the Strategic Private Sector Partnerships for Urban Poverty Reduction (STEP UP) urban development projects in Caloocan and Malabon.

demented_pigeon

April 3rd, 2007, 04:12 AM

if they will ride it, more so should we!

Waldenstrom

April 3rd, 2007, 09:16 PM

They would have to clean the Guadalupe area. I can still see lots of garbage floating there sometimes.

Rene Ybardolaza

April 3rd, 2007, 10:39 PM

Duplicate.

Rolls-Royce

April 3rd, 2007, 10:55 PM

Picture taking is only prohibited when the ferry is nearing the vicinity of Malacañan Palace and Malacañan Park and Garden (located at the other side of the river). I've experience it when I took shots of Malacañan Palace.

I think this is getting a bit too far now. It reminded of Saudi Arabia and other communist countries wherein you could not take photos of their buildings. I don't know why taking pictures should be prohibited. Taking pictures in front of the White House is okay, also in front of the Westminster Palace and Downing Street, even Buckingham Palace in London is okay. So why is it prohibited in our country? Even in the LRT stations is prohibited, mind you it's never been a problem taking pictures in the London underground, and to think that it was bombed only two years ago. Malacanang Palace should do the same, at the end of the day, its only the outside that you're taking photograph and not the most sensitive parts of the building. Its a grand building and it'll put tourists off if we prohibit a lot of picture taking or kodaking.

Rene Ybardolaza

April 4th, 2007, 12:09 AM

Yesterday, I got the opportunity to try out the ferry system in Pasig. Thanks to all of you who made us all aware of its existence.
A friend dropped me off at Guadalupe. He will meet me at Escolta, 17 kilometers downstream.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897075-L.jpg
Incoming Ferry - the wait is not too long. A ferry comes around in less than an hour. Fare is still 25 pesos.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897089-L.jpg
Boarding - Notice the ghoulish drip of the sign.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897116-L.jpg

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897106-L.jpg
These young ladies (Nina, Jen and Kim) are young missionaries from Pohnpei, Micronesia. They are here in the Philippines for a week experiencing the ways of life in the old country.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897148-L.jpg
Makati City Hall

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897206-L.jpg
Sta. Ana Station.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897202-L.jpg
Kids Bathing. If the splash is any indication, there's lots of fish in the water near the banks of the river where the flow is less hectic. Whenever there is fish, there is always someone out there with a line trying to catch them.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897191-L.jpg
River Front Housing.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897182-L.jpg
Lambingan Station.... very romantic.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897165-L.jpg

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897162-L.jpg
River Tug Boat - the crew tells me that these boats haul cements, sand and whatever upstream. As the boat pass, it churns up silt from below, raising the smell level of the river, which is not too offensive, depending on one's tolerance level.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897151-L.jpg
River Captain at work - These catamarans are built here, according to the crew.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897232-L.jpg
Sister Ferry

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897244-L.jpg
Colorful Tug

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897252-L.jpg
Friendly Crew - One of the missionaries tried to get a picture of the palace after being told not to. One of the crew gently placed his hand over the camera as she tried to point and shoot and nicely reminded her to refrain from taking the shot.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897255-L.jpg
Traffic Ahead

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897274-L.jpg
Push aside traffic jam - The ferry blows a loud horn to let others know of incoming traffic. Tugs push aside lumbering giants to make way.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897262-L.jpg
Work under the bridge - everybody is friendly. They wave at ferry riders with much enthusiasm and curiousity.

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897268-L.jpg

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897272-L.jpg
Old Manila ahead

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897278-L.jpg
Wider mouth downstream

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897282-L.jpg
Nearing the end of the line - Escolta

http://cocapepe.smugmug.com/photos/140897287-L.jpg
Old architecture - beautiful, unrestored.

Overall, the ride was quite pleasant. One can stay inside the air-conditioned cabin, or go outside in front to get a full view of the river life. It is another way of life most Filipinos are not familiar with. It should be promoted more by the government.

crappypants

April 4th, 2007, 12:29 AM

thanks rene. i felt like i just took a tour of the pasig river ferry.
the houses by the riverbanks will inevitably have to be removed.

reggiedoc

April 4th, 2007, 01:32 AM

Rene, awesome job. What a journey!!!!!!!!!!!!!

reggiedoc

April 4th, 2007, 02:18 AM

The Metro Ferry of the 1990s.....

http://www.hoteltravel.com/philippines/manila/guides/transport/ferry.jpg

We've come a long way.....

reggiedoc

April 4th, 2007, 02:33 AM

Rene Sumodobila writes: "It had a single lane in each travel way to allow passage of horse-drawn carriages and a pedestrian island in the middle. The Puente Colgante is said to be first suspension bridge in the Far East. The bridge materials were imported from England by Matia Menchacatorre y Cia, a Spanish company, in joint venture with Ayala y Cia, a local company. The contruction was supervised by M. Gabaud, a French engineer. Inaugurated in January 4, 1852, it went into service until 1940 in order to give way to the modern-day Quezon Bridge."

1852 Colgante de Manila (Claveria)-Manila, Philippines (Pasig River)

http://www.bridgemeister.com/thumbs/rsphpasig-thumb.jpg

Aragon

April 4th, 2007, 02:48 AM

4 na stations lang

Lili

April 4th, 2007, 03:31 AM