Graduating students get 50% off on Pasig River ferry ride

MANILA, Philippines - Graduating students can expect to be given a 50 percent fare discount on the Pasig River Ferry service starting March 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday.

"We want to recognize our hardworking students who will be graduating by offering them this discount," said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.

Tolentino said starting March 15, graduating elementary, high school and college students will enjoy a 50-percent discount from their usual fares that range from P30 to P95. The students only need to present school identification cards when boarding the ferry to avail of the discount, Tolentino said.

Graduating students would only enjoy the discounted fare until their graduation date. Tolentino said the MMDA has a list of graduation dates of all public and private schools in Metro Manila.

Tolentino added that the discounted ferry fare would most benefit graduating students of schools such as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Lyceum of the Philippines University and the Mapua Institute of Technology which are located near the ferry terminals.

The MMDA revived the Pasig River ferry service last April as a possible alternative transport mode.

At present, the Pasig River ferry service has seven terminals: Guadalupe (Makati City); Pinagbuhatan and San Joaquin (Pasig City); and Escolta, PUP Sta. Mesa, Plaza Mexico and Sta. Ana (Manila).

The ferry service – which operate 11 boats - charge passengers between P30 and P95 depending on the distance travelled between terminals. Each ferry can transport a maximum of 30 passengers per trip.