Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said he will support the plan of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to revive the Pasig River ferry service, which he said would make Manila more accessible to commuters and traders.

Estrada recently met with PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago where the PPA executive offered to put up ferry terminals at major areas in Manila, including Quinta Market in Carlos Palanca Street near the Pasig River in Quiapo whose P90-million renovation is about to be completed soon.

“That is a good project. We will support it all the way,” Estrada said, pointing out that the ferry service will cut travel time to and from Manila, particularly in downtown Quiapo, the city’s center of commerce and worship.

Estrada earlier appropriated funds for the construction of a port along Pasig River at the back of Quinta Market to accommodate fish buyers using the river as their route but Santiago offered to undertake the construction of the port and ferry station.

Estrada said the ferry service and the Quinta port will decongest Quezon Boulevard, the major road leading to the traffic-prone Quiapo district.

“We expect traffic volume to lessen along Quezon Boulevard when the Quinta ferry port becomes fully operational. Black Nazarene devotees coming from all over Metro Manila will also be able to reach Quiapo in lesser time compared to taking the land route,” Estrada pointed out.

The ferry service is also expected to boost trade at Quinta Market, providing easy access to fish traders and consumers from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, he added.

Santiago, who was appointed to the PPA by President Duterte only last month, told Estrada that the agency is ready to finance the revival of the Pasig River ferry service, including putting up modern ferry stops at Quinta Market and other locations in Manila.

The planned ferry service will also link up with Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1) stations in the city for faster and hassle-free travel, according to Santiago.

At present, the current operational ferry service in Pasig River is being managed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority but its ridership remains low.

It has 14 stations including Pinagbuhatan, Maybunga and San Joaquin in Pasig City, Guadalupe and Valenzuela in Makati City, Hulo in Mandaluyong and PUP Sta. Mesa, Sta. Ana, Lambingan, Lawton, Escolta and Plaza Mexico in Manila.