COUNCILOR Conrado Baluran announced on Tuesday that a coastal ferry in the city remains up in the air considering the uncertainty in fund allocation.
Bauran, the committee on transportation and communications chair, said the city government has to subsidize the project, which can be costly.
“Ang problema lang kay naa tay i-subsidize certain amount, amo pa ning gi-studyohan kung pwede ba ni nga kitay mo-subsidize,” Baluran said during Aprubado sa Konseho.
Baluran cited for example the regular rate from Toril to the city costs around P30-P50, however, the water taxi will cost P80, which is P30 higher than the normal.
“Ang kadtong P30 murag kita [city government] na hinoon ang pabayaron para ma-operationalize sila, so we are still looking into it,” he said.
He stressed rather that the new mode of transportation would help address the city’s traffic congestion, this would only add up to the problem.
To recall, Baluran disclosed in February that Pinoy Catamaran Corporation, the same company that started and manages the Pasig River ferry in Manila, proposed the project. The proposed ferry unit is a 65 ft. Trimaran with a capacity of 50 passengers.
Stations proposed include Toril, SM Ecoland, Matina, Boulevard, Alcantara Port, Agdao, Mintrade (Shoreline), Sasa Wharf, Panacan, Sta. Ana, Tibungco.
In the proposal, July-September should have been for crew screening and training, and a dry run for the vessel, ticketing, and terminal in September.
The contract signing between Davao and Lupon–including the finished vessel design review, and management, and facilities staffing–was originally set for January and February.
However, Baluran said the discussion is still at the committee level to further discuss the feasibility of the project.
