MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) are moving to pilot-test electric ferries for the Iloilo-Bacolod route and hybrid vessels for Batangas-Calapan to lower carbon emissions and operational costs.
In a statement on Thursday, Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push for cleaner and more sustainable public transportation.
“Ang gusto natin dito ay makita kung paano natin magagamit ang teknolohiyang ito sa Pilipinas at paano mabe-benepisyuhan ang mga pasahero, ship owners, at maging ang ating environment at kalusugan (What we want here is to see how we can use this technology in the Philippines and how it will benefit passengers, ship owners and even our environment and health),”Lopez said.
He noted that shifting to these technologies can reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and vessel operating costs.
“Ultimately, ang makikinabang dito ay ang ating mga pasahero (Ultimately, our passengers will be the ones to benefit),” he added.
MARINA is pursuing the pilot following an earlier International Maritime Organization and World Bank study on improving the safety and energy efficiency of domestic passenger ferries.
Pure electric vessels are being considered for shorter routes like Iloilo-Bacolod, while hybrid ships may be more practical for medium-distance trips like Batangas-Calapan.
Hybrid vessels use dual power sources: a traditional diesel fuel engine and an electric motor with rechargeable batteries.
According to MARINA data, around 69 million maritime passenger trips were recorded in the country in 2025. Out of roughly 4,000 domestic passenger ships, around 300 interisland ferries account for about 86 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from domestic ferries.
World Bank senior port and maritime transport specialist Ninan Biju Oommen said the shift could also mean benefits for commuters.
“If you extend the life cycle time for a 15-year operating cycle, you don’t need to increase the fares. The model has ensured that you can recover the cost without increasing the fares,” Oommen said.
The World Bank noted that an electric ferry could cost about USD10 million more than conventional vessels but could still yield returns of more than 8 percent.
Meanwhile, a conventional ferry could spend USD25 million to USD50 million on fuel alone over 15 years.
MARINA is also looking at retrofitting existing ferries with electric or hybrid systems, which could open opportunities for local shipbuilding.
Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation President Christopher Pastrana expressed willingness to retrofit a FastCat vessel to electric power as part of the pilot.
“The national government created an environment where the private sector and the government work together to come up with a national program that will promote the development of the transportation system, the entire ecosystem,” Pastrana said.
The DOTr and MARINA will bring together government agencies, development partners, shipowners and other industry stakeholders in Iloilo on Nov. 4 for a Stakeholder Consultation on the Interisland Ferry Decarbonization Pilot Project.
The consultation will discuss requirements for pilot operations, including vessel technology, charging infrastructure, financing and possible retrofitting. (PNA)
