MMDA turns over PH’s first electric ferry vessel MMDA turns over PH’s first electric ferry vessel

MMDA turns over PH’s first electric ferry vessel
James Daniel Danio March 28, 2026 https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/03/28/news/national/mmda-turns-over-phs...

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday formally marked the turnover of M/B Dalaray, billed as the country’s first electric ferry, several months after it was launched in November 2025.

During the ceremonial closing of the Development, Prototyping, and Pilot Deployment of the Electric Passenger Ferry Project on Thursday, officials presented the pilot run results of the vessel, which served 3,258 passengers through February.

The project also helped avoid about 16,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions and saved about 6,237 liters of fuel, with officials presenting the figures as part of the ferry’s operational gains.

Passenger surveys also highlighted the boat’s safety, sustainability as an electric ferry, cleanliness, and quiet operation as among its notable features.

MMDA Chairman Don Artes said the electric ferry marked an important step toward sustainable and innovative transport solutions for the country’s waterways.

Artes said M/B Dalaray demonstrates that technology can be used to create a cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally responsible public transportation system.

He also announced plans to build two more electric boats and to seek technical assistance from agencies involved in the project, including the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Energy, and Maritime Industry Authority.

Artes said the plan would complement the upcoming fully electric Love Bus, which will offer free rides in selected areas in Pasig.

MMDA Deputy Chairman Frisco San Juan Jr. also shared his experience riding the ferry, saying it was enjoyable because “it is very quiet and it is easy to hear the guides whenever there are tour groups.”

San Juan said the push for electric ferry boats is timely given the ongoing tensions in the oil-rich Middle East.

He said this proved that the transition to electrification and cleaner transport options was a “pressing and immediate priority” for the future of urban mobility.

MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III, meanwhile, shared observations from his inspection ride on board Dalaray on Wednesday, including the need to improve the communications system at stations of the MMDA Pasig River Ferry Service.