PH’s Pioneering Battery-Electric Passenger Ferry Set to Help Ease Metro Traffic Congestion

The Philippines’ first-ever electric passenger ferry is set to serve the public beginning in November and is projected to significantly ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila while promoting sustainability by eliminating fossil fuel consumption.

The M/B Dalaray development initiative received ₱30 million in funding for Phase 1 and more than ₱54 million for the entire project. (Photo: Maritime Industry Authority Facebook)

Named M/B Dalaray, which means “flow of current,” this innovative ferry has recently been launched and is set to be fully operational by November 2025. It can carry up to 40 passengers per trip along the Pasig River.

It was developed by Filipino inventors from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, led by Dr. Lew Andrew R. Tria, with funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and monitoring by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).

The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to advance a greener, cleaner, and smarter mode of transportation.

“It was built with the conditions of the Pasig River in mind—ensuring passenger comfort, energy efficiency, and ease of maintenance,” said DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr.

The project was carried out in collaboration with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), operator of the Pasig River Ferry Service; the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA); and other relevant organizations.

The M/B Dalaray operates on lithium-ion battery power with a range of 45 kilometers per charge and a continuous running time of two to three hours.

It can be fully recharged within the same period and is equipped with a hybrid solar inverter system that supplies power to onboard facilities, including lighting and air-conditioning.

According to the DOST, this innovation strengthens the Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP) and serves as a model of how sustainable transportation can become part of a city’s community experience.

Solidum explained that the SSCP is one of the DOST’s many initiatives aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability.

These pillars, he added, embody the mantra “OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All.”

The DOST chief further stated that the SSCP equips local government units (LGUs) that are harnessing science and technology to build resilient, data-driven, and inclusive communities.

It also promotes digital growth, environmental stewardship, energy innovation, and climate-smart governance.

Aside from its potential to help reduce congestion in Metro Manila, the M/B Dalaray can also be used in disaster response and preparedness.

“With the frequent earthquakes in the Philippines, and the possibility of a major one affecting Manila, our roads could be severely damaged if the West Valley Fault moves. One of our recommendations in the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study is to develop a transport system along the Pasig River and across Laguna Lake,” Solidum said.

He noted that the Pasig River connects five major cities—Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong, Taguig, and Manila—and could also connect Marikina and several towns around Laguna Lake, including those in Rizal and Laguna provinces. Along its route are numerous schools, business districts, and tourist spots.

Solidum added that it would also be easier to deliver assistance to affected areas along its routes if roads become impassable during disasters such as earthquakes.

The M/B Dalaray development initiative received ₱30 million in funding for Phase 1 and more than ₱54 million for the entire project, according to the DOST.

The MMDA said the prototype is a cost-efficient addition to its existing fleet of 11 diesel-powered ferries, which currently serve around a thousand passengers per day.

The agency hopes to replace all its existing ferries with battery-electric-powered ones within five years, provided sufficient funding is secured.