A quiet revolution is coming to the Pasig River. By November, the country’s first locally developed electric passenger ferry—the M/B Dalaray—will begin to glide across Manila’s historic waterway, marking a new chapter in the Philippines’ pursuit of sustainable and smarter urban transport.
Developed by the University of the Philippines Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (UP EEEI) and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), the Dalaray is more than a ferry—it’s a floating symbol of innovation, environmental responsibility, and Filipino ingenuity.
Named after the Filipino word for “flow of current,” M/B Dalaray is designed to reconnect the capital’s waterways with the daily commute. It will navigate routes across Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, and Taguig, potentially extending to Marikina and Laguna de Bay. Charging stations powered by solar energy will dot the riverbanks, ensuring the ferry runs entirely on clean, renewable power.
For DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., the e-ferry’s debut is not just about technological progress—it’s about reclaiming the Pasig River’s purpose.
“This project addresses our biggest urban pains—traffic congestion, pollution, and limited mobility options,” Solidum said. “It’s a small step with a huge impact on both our economy and our environment.”
Beyond transportation: A Lifeline for the future
Solidum also highlighted the ferry’s strategic value beyond daily commuting. In the event of major earthquakes or disasters, the electric fleet could provide an emergency transport and logistics network when roads become impassable.
“The Pasig River has always been part of our urban identity,” he said. “Reviving it as a transport artery is both practical and patriotic.”
He urged the private sector to embrace the DOST’s challenge: scale up, invest in local technology, and make sustainability profitable. “Pag-invest sa gawang Pilipino, sa teknolohiyang makakatulong sa kalikasan at ekonomiya—that’s true nation-building,” he added.
Filipino-made, future-focused
The Dalaray’s prototype was developed with a research budget of P54.2 million, with the vessel itself costing around P30 million. UP EEEI project leader Dr. Lew Andrew Tria noted that mass production could significantly reduce the unit cost.
“This is a prototype—a proof of concept,” Tria explained. “Once we scale production, the price per vessel can drop drastically. It’s a long-term investment for a cleaner, more efficient transport network.”
The ferry will be fully integrated into the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Pasig River Ferry System, which currently operates 11 diesel-powered boats serving about 1,000 commuters daily.
Towards a clean commuting revolution
For MMDA Deputy Chairperson Usec. Frisco San Juan, the partnership marks a major leap toward modernizing public river transport. “We want every ferry on the Pasig River to be electric within five years,” he said. “Cleaner, quieter, and cheaper to maintain—it’s the kind of progress our cities need.”
In its pilot phase, rides aboard the Dalaray will be free of charge to encourage the public to try it. Over time, Solidum said, fares could become even cheaper than conventional modes of transport due to lower energy and maintenance costs.
With Metro Manila’s 38,000 cell sites struggling to serve over 113 million mobile users, and its roads more congested than ever, the Dalaray experiment could reshape how Filipinos move—on water instead of land. If successful, it could spark similar clean-transport projects across the archipelago’s waterways, from Cebu to Davao.
In a city long defined by gridlock and gray skies, the sight of an electric ferry silently gliding along the Pasig River might soon become more than a novelty—it could be a glimpse of the urban future the Philippines deserves: clean, connected, and proudly Filipino-made.
