Metro Manila has been a haven of undisciplined drivers, multiple road fixtures, and many other mishap. This results in the traffic our country is famous for. Especially in EDSA going to the Southern part of Luzon (Cavite, Tagaytay, Batangas), the traffic worsens; leaving nothing but frustrations to all motorists and commuters.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced that they are launching the newest Manila-Cavite Ferry Route to aid public transportation. The said route would be able to take people from Manila to Cavite in less than 30 minutes.
Read: Removal of EDSA’s U-Turn Slots to Improve Traffic?
Manila-Cavite Ferry Route
GOOD NEWS PO!
May libre pong Ferry Ride from Manila to Cavite from starting Dec 9, 2019 hanggang Jan 9, 2020 courtesy of @DOTrPH and Sec. Art Tugade. Tuloy ito di gaya ng BS Aquino admin na hanggang salita lang. Walang trapik, so dito na! #LiberalHypocrisy #DuterteCares #Duterte pic.twitter.com/thQ39SSzAx— Simoun Rebolusyonaryo (@SimounIsMe) December 8, 2019
The DOTr said that this ferry route would be able to transport passengers from Lawton Avenue in Manila, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to Cavite.
It’ll be available, according to them, starting on Monday, December 9th, 2019. In addition to that, the DOTr said that there’ll be a free Manila-Cavite ferry route for its first (1st) month.
Read: What Causes Metro Manila Traffic? Here’s What’s Causing it, According to the MMDA
In their announcement the DOTr said that this project aims to provide an alternative way of commuting to Caviteños to travel to the capital of the country.
Ang magiging ruta ay mula sa Cavite City Port Terminal – Cavite City Hall patungong CCP Port at pati na rin sa Liwasang Bonifacio, at balikan.”
In Translation: The route would be from the Cavite City Port Terminal – Cavite City Hall to the CCP Port, even in Liwasang Bonifacio; and vice versa.
How much would the fees be?
So let’s not talk about the free Manila-Cavite ferry route first; let’s focus on how much it’s going to be. To start, there’ll be two (2) ferries:
Read: 20 New Tollways, to be Added in SCTEX for Less Traffic Congestion
- MB Seaborne Mercury
- MV “Island Sabtang”
Both of which holds a different rate when transporting passengers to and from the aforementioned routes. We’ll discuss the two ferries separately so you know how much you can expect to pay.
MB Seaborne Mercury
The MB Seaborne Mercury holds slightly higher fare amounts for passengers. They are as follows:
- Regular and/or Adult – P200.00
- Student – P160.00
- Senior Citizen – P143.00
- Children (4 to 11 years of age) – P125.00
Read: Free Transportation of Relief Goods Bill, Approved
Furthermore, the DOTr also laid out the schedules of the departure of the MB Seaborne Mercury.
MB Seaborne Mercury | |||
Daily Schedule | |||
Departure (Time) | Arrival (Time) | ||
CCP | 6:00 A.M. | Cavite City | 6:20 A.M. |
Cavite City | 7:00 A.M. | CCP | 7:20 A.M. |
CCP | 8:00 A.M. | Cavite City | 8:20 A.M. |
Cavite City | 9:00 A.M. | CCP | 9:20 A.M. |
CCP | 3:30 P.M. | Cavite City | 3:50 P.M. |
Cavite City | 4:30 P.M. | CCP | 4:50 P.M. |
CCP | 5:30 P.M. | Cavite City | 5:50 P.M. |
Cavite City | 6:30 P.M. | CCP | 6:50 P.M. |
MV “Island Sabtang”
The MV “Island Sabtang” is also one of the two (2) ferries that would be in use for the Manila-Cavite ferry route system. Here are the rates and the schedule of the departure and the arrivals.
- Regular and/or Adult – P160.00
- Student – P128.00
- Senior Citizens/Persons with Disability (PWDs) – P114.00
- Children (4 to 11 years of age) – P80.00
- Children (0 to 3 years of age) – FREE
Read: New 57-Seater Boat Offered by the Pasig River Ferry System
MV “Island Sabtang” | |||
Daily Schedule | |||
Departure (Time) | Arrival (Time) | ||
Cavite City | 5:15 A.M. | Lawton | 6:00 A.M. |
Lawton | 6:30 A.M. | Cavite City | 7:15 A.M. |
Cavite City | 7:45 A.M. | Lawton | 8:30 A.M. |
Lawton | 4:30 P.M. | Cavite City | 5:15 P.M. |
Cavite City | 5:45 P.M. | Lawton | 6:30 P.M. |
Lawton | 7:00 P.M. | Cavite City | 7:45 P.M. |
Free Manila-Cavite Ferry Routes
Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said that this is his gift to people in Cavite. He said that the free Manila-Cavite rides would run for a month as some sort of present to communities there.
Gusto ko pamaskong handog ito sa mga taga-Cavite. At kung gagawin ko pamaskong handog ito, dapat naman libre.”
Read: The New Makati City Subway and How it Can Change the Transportation in and Around Metro Manila
In Translation: I want this to be a Christmas gift to people in Cavite. And if it’s MY gift, I want it to be special – I want it to be free.
He continues to say that with the flexibility of the routes, people from Cavite will no longer have to worry about going through the hassle of traffic in the Metro. That the extensions of the routes to CCP and even Lawton would take less than an hour.
With this service, hanggang sa Lawton, hanggang sa CCP, naglalaro ho yan sa 40 minutes one way… Imagine how much you will be saving in terms of travel time.”
In Translation: With this service, going up to Lawton, even CCP,the time would somewhere be just around 40 minutes one way. Imagine how much you will be saving in terms of travel time with the Manila-Cavite ferry route.
How long is the original travel time to Manila from Cavite and vice versa?
Depending on where you want to go and on the situation, the travel time plays within a range of two (2), four (4), and five (5) hours. If you’re commuting, it’s somewhere around four (4) hours. If the traffic is kind of heavy, but flowing, it’s going to be between five (5) hours.
Read: Makati City Subway Project Gets an Initial Funding Worth $332 Million
Imagine that time – the time you spent going to Manila is comparable to you going to different provinces. With the new ferry route and ferry system being offered by the DOTr, you’ll be able to use time efficiently and more productively vs using it for transportation.
Edgar Mary Sarmiento, Samar 1st District Rep., and Chair of the DOTr Committee, said that the usual time of travel between Cavite and Manila is somewhere between four (4) hours.
Read: The Philippine National Railways is Hiring Operations Officer and Maintenance Workers
Time-saver
The Manila-Cavite ferry route would be a definite time-saver especially for people who are always on the go. With the quick intervals of departures and arrivals, it’s a win-win situation for all people who reside in Cavite City who plans on traveling to Manila.
Hours would be saved in comparison to what we have now. If you add the fact that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that few infra projects and road improvement projects are on its way next year, this would be a blessing to people in Cavite City.
Read: Big Things in Philippine Infrastructure Within the Next 2 Years, DPWH
The free Manila-Cavite ferry route is the cherry on top of the ice cream. With a free trial for a month, Caviteños would be able to enjoy rides with no cost.
In charge in establishing the said route would be the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), as well as the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cavite City.
With joint forces from various government agencies, the Manila-Cavite ferry route is being looked at as an effective measure to ease traffic and congestion in major areas of the Metro.
What do you think about the route that would save hours and hours from the regular city traffic? Well, what about the free Manila-Cavite ferry route that would be available for one (1) whole month?
Read: Gojek, Indonesia Ride-Hailing App to Enter the Philippine Market This 2020
Hopefully, people in the said cities would patronize this so that they can enjoy traveling without wasting hours of their time.
Source/s: CNN Philippines | GMA Network