00:00Philippine and Norwegian officials came together for the first-ever Norway-Philippines Electric Ferries Conference on Tuesday.
00:08One of the highlights of the conference is the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake,
00:13or the Mapalya Electric Ferry System that aims to connect Metro Manila, Cavite, and Laguna
00:18through a high-capacity, high-frequency, and low-carbon commuter ferry network.
00:23Norwegian ambassador to the Philippines, Christian Halles Leicester, says that electricity is not just feasible,
00:31it is highly effective.
00:32Maritime Industry Authority or Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan underscored the urgency of climate action,
00:40saying decarbonization is not merely a compliance task, it is a national imperative for survival and resilience,
00:48noting that the country remains highly vulnerable to natural calamities.
00:52Transportation Assistant Secretary Ventura Plan affirmed that the government's full support for the initiative,
00:59citing that waterways are not barriers, but are lifelines.
01:04The package one of the project covers the Pasig and Marikina Rivers,
01:08where construction will commence by 2027 to 2029, with 75 electric vessels set to sail by the year 2029.
01:17While package two expands to Manila Bay and Laguna Lake, targeted to begin operations by year 2035.
