Metro Manila Waterways Transport System: Anyone?
By Ed Vargas
Traffic in Metro Manila has been a perennial problem and will continue to be a worsening problem in the years to come. Metro Manila is growing fast in terms of population growth and economic growth. As Metro Manila continue to become a highly urbanized area and the sprouting sub-urban areas around its environs will continue to attract more people to settle here or do business here. The demand for transport is a function of economic growth and population growth and so the number of vehicles that will use the roadways. However, it appears that the existing road network of Metro Manila is not enough to accommodate the volume of vehicles and assuming government is adding new road networks, it is outpaced by the faster growth of road users. Even the MRT and LRT network who are supposed to provide mass transportation for the burgeoning population of the metropolis is insufficient. The result is heavy traffic everywhere.
According to a study conducted by a Japanese agency, the Philippines is losing about P 2.4 billion per day in terms of forgone productivity and income due to heavy traffic. Multiply that by 365 day you a P 876 billion annually which is about a third of our national budget. That's a lot of money which could have been channeled to providing basic services the citizen or could have been used to alleviate poverty.
The government, in particular the MMDA have tried to solve the traffic problems with its strategy of vehicle reduction program. We have the number coding which prohibits a vehicle owner to go out once a week. However, the "can affords" simply bought another car with another ending plate number to circumvent the ordinance. The aggressive marketing of car manufacturers and dealers didn't help either as purchasing a car has now become more affordable and easy. Recently, MMDA's plan to implement number coding that will stop you from using your car twice a week drew a lot of flak. Lately, they have barred provincial buses from entering Metro Manila to reduce the volume of buses plying Metro Manila roads but this has inconvenienced a lot of commuting public and was criticized for benefitting only the private vehicle owners.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is considering going "underground" to solve Metro Manila's traffic problems. According to Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Abaya, the government has been considering a subway system in the metropolis as an alternative to congested roads and elevated light railway lines. The idea was floated by past administrations but it stumbled on viability issues. Assuming, the plan becomes viable, I can't imagine the horrendous traffic it will create once construction begins. I would say that this proposal would get us to a situation of "hell before heaven".
While the efforts of MMDA are laudable, it appears that they are not enough. Planned infrastructure to increase roadway networks are disruptive and will take time.
While the efforts of MMDA are laudable, it appears that they are not enough. Planned infrastructure to increase roadway networks are disruptive and will take time.
If we lack roadways now, has anybody thought of exploiting our waterways for transportation purposes?
The Metro Manila Waterways
Metro Manila is located in the hydraulically complex Pasig River—Laguna de Bay—Manila Bay watershed, which includes more than thirty tributaries within the urban area. The main waterways consisting of the major channels are the following:
Tullahan River where the mouth is at Navotas, pass through the northern part of Quezon City, Valenzuela, Novaliches and Malabon. Marikina River, flows through Marikina, Cainta, Montalban, San Mateo and Antipolo as well as some parts of Quezon City leading to Pasig River. Pasig River flows directly to Laguna De Bay and Marikina River, and also QC, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila and San Juan (including San Juan River) on to Manila Bay. San Juan River flows water from Quezon City (like Tandang Sora and as far as Sauyo/Fairview/, San Juan and Manila leading to Pasig River.
Navotas River flows water from Navotas, Caloocan and Manila, intersects with Tullahan River at the middle on to Manila Bay (southern end) and to Tangos River (northern end). Angat River which drains water from Angat Dam pass through Norzagaray and other Bulacan areas. Its mouth is at Hagonoy, Bulacan and flows water directly to Manila Bay. Marilao River (major channel) from Marilao, Meycuayan and as far as the northwestern side of the La Mesa Dam area. Two other rivers, the Meycuayan River and Polo River that drains Malabon and Valenzuela dump their water here. Other great rivers, the Santa Maria River and Balagtas River meet up with the Marilao River in the Obando area before reaching Manila Bay.
Paranaque River another major channel drains Paranaque, Pasay and Manila areas and dumps water directly into Manila Bay. Las Pinas River (major channel) drains water from Las Pinas and dumps water into Manila Bay directly. Pateros River drains water from Makati area (Guadalupe, Fort Bonifacio) and Pateros dumps most of its water into Laguna De Bay via Laguna River at its southeastern tip. It dumps some of its water into Pasig River in Guadalupe. Zapote River drains water from Las Pinas and parts of Bacoor Cavite and dumps water into Manila Bay directly. Laguna River drains water from Makati, Pateros and Taguig and dumps water into Laguna De Bay. Sucat River drains water from Paranaque and Muntinlupa and dumps water into Laguna De Bay. Paranaque River drains Paranaque, Pasay and Manila areas and dumps water directly into Manila Bay.
Navotas River flows water from Navotas, Caloocan and Manila, intersects with Tullahan River at the middle on to Manila Bay (southern end) and to Tangos River (northern end). Angat River which drains water from Angat Dam pass through Norzagaray and other Bulacan areas. Its mouth is at Hagonoy, Bulacan and flows water directly to Manila Bay. Marilao River (major channel) from Marilao, Meycuayan and as far as the northwestern side of the La Mesa Dam area. Two other rivers, the Meycuayan River and Polo River that drains Malabon and Valenzuela dump their water here. Other great rivers, the Santa Maria River and Balagtas River meet up with the Marilao River in the Obando area before reaching Manila Bay.
Paranaque River another major channel drains Paranaque, Pasay and Manila areas and dumps water directly into Manila Bay. Las Pinas River (major channel) drains water from Las Pinas and dumps water into Manila Bay directly. Pateros River drains water from Makati area (Guadalupe, Fort Bonifacio) and Pateros dumps most of its water into Laguna De Bay via Laguna River at its southeastern tip. It dumps some of its water into Pasig River in Guadalupe. Zapote River drains water from Las Pinas and parts of Bacoor Cavite and dumps water into Manila Bay directly. Laguna River drains water from Makati, Pateros and Taguig and dumps water into Laguna De Bay. Sucat River drains water from Paranaque and Muntinlupa and dumps water into Laguna De Bay. Paranaque River drains Paranaque, Pasay and Manila areas and dumps water directly into Manila Bay.
Canal dela Reyna River flows water from Manila as far as Tayuman, Claro M. Recto, and Binondo on to
Pasig River at its southern tip and flows water to Manila Bay via Estero De Vitas in its northern tip. Estero de Tripa de Gallina flow through Manila (Paco, San Andres), Makati as far as Fobres Park and Fort Bonifacio and then through Buendia Ave in Makati and Pasay City (including Bangkal and Don Bosco Makati) and then in Paranaque and goes to Manila Bay via the Paranaque River at the intersection near western side of the NAIA runway.
The rest are small rivers and creeks connected to these major channels such as Maytunas Creek in Mandaluyong and San Juan, Polo River in Malabon, Valenzuela and Bulacan, Tanza River connects with Dampalit River and Tangos River which connects to Manila Bay. We have Batasan River which connects to Tanza River which leads to Manila Bay via Tangos River, Muzon River connects to Manila Bay via the entrance of Marilao River in Bulacan, Meycuayan River connects to Manila Bay via Marilao River. Estero de Maypad connects to Navotas River, Estero De Vitas in Tayuman) connects directly to Manila Bay, Estero Sunog Apog to Manila Bay via Estero De Vitas, Estero de Paco leads to Pasig River, Pasong Diablo River into Laguna De Bay, Alabang River from Alabang (up to Ayala Alabang Village and Festival Mall) into Laguna De Bay via Pasong Diablo River, Bayanan Creek in Alabang into Laguna De Bay, Poblacion River ,Magdaong River and Tunasan River from Alabang all into Laguna De Bay.
Metro Manila Waterways Transport System
Pasig River at its southern tip and flows water to Manila Bay via Estero De Vitas in its northern tip. Estero de Tripa de Gallina flow through Manila (Paco, San Andres), Makati as far as Fobres Park and Fort Bonifacio and then through Buendia Ave in Makati and Pasay City (including Bangkal and Don Bosco Makati) and then in Paranaque and goes to Manila Bay via the Paranaque River at the intersection near western side of the NAIA runway.
The rest are small rivers and creeks connected to these major channels such as Maytunas Creek in Mandaluyong and San Juan, Polo River in Malabon, Valenzuela and Bulacan, Tanza River connects with Dampalit River and Tangos River which connects to Manila Bay. We have Batasan River which connects to Tanza River which leads to Manila Bay via Tangos River, Muzon River connects to Manila Bay via the entrance of Marilao River in Bulacan, Meycuayan River connects to Manila Bay via Marilao River. Estero de Maypad connects to Navotas River, Estero De Vitas in Tayuman) connects directly to Manila Bay, Estero Sunog Apog to Manila Bay via Estero De Vitas, Estero de Paco leads to Pasig River, Pasong Diablo River into Laguna De Bay, Alabang River from Alabang (up to Ayala Alabang Village and Festival Mall) into Laguna De Bay via Pasong Diablo River, Bayanan Creek in Alabang into Laguna De Bay, Poblacion River ,Magdaong River and Tunasan River from Alabang all into Laguna De Bay.
Metro Manila Waterways Transport System
I proposed the development of transport system in the main waterways of Metro Manila with its complex network of major rivers and tributaries providing an alternative and relieving the existing roadways that can no longer accommodate the increasing volume of land transportation.
A major component of the Metro Manila Water Transport System would be big ports in main waterways where roll-on, roll-off boats (RORO) would carry both commuting passengers and big trucks carrying products from the North and South Harbor to their destination elsewhere in Metro Manila. This way you eliminate these big trucks from plying around major roads in the metro like EDSA and there will be no need for truck ban.
Second component would be mini ports along the main water ways that can service purely passenger boats to transport students and workers to and from their schools and place of work in Manila, Quezon City, Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong and Taguig.
A third component would be micro ports along the small rivers and esteros for small motor to transport commuting passengers to and from shorter destinations in the smaller municipalities down to the barangay level.
As a pre-requisite for the development of this water transport system to allow big boats and improve water flow would be the massive "cleaning up" (declogging/bank improvement/ dredging/ relocation of illegal settlers / and removal of all illegal structure) like San Juan River, Canal dela Reyna River and Estero de Tripa de Gallina. Needed are dikes or bank improvement, removal of obstructions and relocation of shanties. 3.5 (dapat palitan mo si Francis T)
The Benefits
If the proposed water transport system could relieve Metro Manila roadways of at least 30% of motor vehicles and commuting passengers currently squeezed in the existing road network and in MRT/LRT that would solve the problematic traffic situation in Metro Manila. The project will also revive the industry of water transport system from shipbuilding, maritime services and a lot of other commercial business could be established around major ports. The project doesn't solve the traffic and shortage of transportation but generates employment as well; from small banca operator, to stevedores, to seamen to ship captains and so forth and so on.
Another immediate benefit as a result of the "clean-up" would be the solution to Metro Manila flooding. Large volume of waters brought by torrential rains will flow unimpeded with the river system free of obstructions, widened and dredged.
I believe this project will pay for itself with the improvement in traffic situation reducing if not eliminating the 2.4 billion per day of forgone opportunity and productivity as a result of heavy traffic. The opportunities from economic activities as result of the water transport industry will generate income to the local communities, the local government and finally contributing to the national coffers.
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