MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday said it is looking at introducing electric ferries as a new and more sustainable mode of transportation.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of this year’s Asia and the Pacific Transport Forum, DOTr Assistant Secretary Leo De Velez said the agency is in talks with potential shipyards for the electric ferries, and studying the possible energy source for the electrification initiative.

De Velez said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is also currently looking at how it can help finance the program.

“Some examples of what they have done in other countries is they have actually financed ship vessels. They did this also in Bangkok. The ADB lent the private company money to buy and build new electric ferries to serve the river. This is one of the possible areas that ADB is exploring,” he said.

De Velez added that the DOTr has already begun investing more in maritime infrastructure, particularly, on nautical highways and ports.

“Similar to how we did mass investments in our railway infrastructure, with our subway, with our North-South Commuter Railway, we’re looking at similar amounts of investment in our maritime infrastructure,” he said.

MANILA BAY-PASIG RIVER-LAGUNA DE BAY

The DOTr also expects to finish within the year its study on the viability of the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake ferry system.

It then plans to bid out the project as a Public Private Partnership program by 2025.

“Before we make important infrastructure investments similar to our railways and airports, we need to conduct passenger surveys. It all stems from the demand It all starts from how many people will be using the ferry system,” said De Velez.

“If we have 100,000 passengers, then that will determine the number of ferry stations, ferry boats. And that’s what will determine the cost (of the project),” he added.

De Velez said the goal is to provide the public with a mass transportation system that takes them from the east to the west corridor of the greater capital region.

“As we know, we have the North-South Commuter Railway, the Metro Manila Subway. Those are primarily north to south. Pasig River, naturally, is there and traverses east to west. So unlike a railway where we have to build the tracks, for the Pasig river, it’s there, All we have to do is build stations and also buy ferries,” he said.

APL DE AP JOINS IN ON ELECTRIFICATION PUSH

Fil-Am musician and Black Eyed Peas member Apl de Ap also attended the forum to talk more about his e-mobility upskilling and education program with the ADB.

The singer and music producer's Apl de Ap Foundation International signed a memorandum of understanding with the MOU back in March with the goal of preparing the Filipino workforce as well as students for the shift to electric vehicles (EV).

“That’s what really started this EV program. We turned an old school car into an electric vehicle so we wanted to bring that back home, that knowledge, that skill set, especially, the Philippines is one of the countries affected by climate change,” he said.

He added that he also hopes to help jeepney drivers as they transition to modern, electric jeepney units.