First Filipino-made electrical ferry sails Pasig River

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‘The problem is to persuade the general public that this modification isn’t solely attainable however needed,’ says Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.

MANILA, Philippines – The primary Filipino-made electrical passenger ferry sailed the 26-kilometer Pasig River on Monday, October 6, elevating hopes for a clear, totally electrified fleet cruising the river within the close to future.

Known as the M/B Dalaray, the e-ferry was designed particularly for the Pasig River. Its peak is low sufficient to keep away from hitting the enduring Jones Bridge, whereas its double aluminum hull (catamaran) ensures buoyancy, stability, and a shallow draft appropriate for the river’s depths. It might probably carry 40 passengers and three crew members, and its roof is provided with photo voltaic panels.

M/B Dalaray is the first-ever domestically developed electrical passenger ferry within the Philippines — lengthy overdue for an archipelagic nation aiming to be an electrical car producer by 2040.

DOST and UP E-Ferry launch in Pasig River — CRUISE. The Division of Science and Expertise and the College of the Philippines Diliman launch the Electrical Passenger Ferry for Inland Waterways or E-Ferry, at Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Manila, on October 6, 2025.

On Monday, the electrical ferry glided quietly alongside the river, barely noticeable because it started to maneuver. Inside, passengers might hear and discuss to one another with out elevating their voices.

Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. mentioned earlier than becoming a member of the inaugural journey that the true problem after the prototype is scaling up: multiplying the variety of ferries and constructing extra charging stations.

“The problem is to persuade the general public that this modification isn’t solely attainable however needed,” Solidum mentioned. “That clear, quiet electrical transport can thrive in each river, each port, and throughout the nation.”

A seven-member group from Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute at College of the Philippines developed the prototype. The group was led by Dr. Lew Andrew Tria.

The Division of Science and Expertise funded the mission, monitored by the Philippine Council for Business, Power, and Rising Expertise Analysis and Improvement.