THE proposed tri-city ferry service that will link three cities in the Ilocos Region is not dead in the water as critics want others to believe. In fact, it is proceeding according to its set timetable.

This was pointed out by Dagupan Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. as he confirmed that Dagupan City is currently hosting the technical working group (TWG) composed of representatives from the city and Alaminos and San Fernando cities.

The TWG is studying the hydrological behavior of the water of the Lingayen Gulf to determine the type of ferryboat that will be commissioned for the service.

“We need to carefully study the factors essential to the project,” he said, adding that a study on the behavior of the water of the Lingayen will help determine the route and the kind of ferryboats that will be utilized.

Fernandez said there is already a pending proposal to purchase three boats, one by each of the participating cities, to ply the approved navigation route.

“We are not running against time,” said Fernandez, explaining that there are lessons to be learned from recent sea disasters obviously pointing particularly to the tragedy met by MV Princess of the Stars off San Fernando town in Romblon.

He said Dagupan is ready to construct the P4 million wharf-cum-theme park it has planned to build along the eastern bank of the Calmay River just below the new Pantal Bridge within the year.

Based on the mutually agreed plan, Fernandez said the three LGUs will initially operate the ferry service but will readily hand it over to any qualified and interested private investor at a any given time.

“The important thing is that we start it in the hope of attracting investors later,” Fernandez said.—LM

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