A RIVER ferry service that will ply a point-to-point trip from Dagupan to Alaminos and San Fernando City is in the drawing board.

Mayors Alipio Fernandez, Jr. of Dagupan City and Hernani Braganza of Alaminos met on November 15 to discuss the initial plan that would call for the participation of Mayor Pablo Ortega of San Fernando City for a tri-point or triangular coverage of the ferry project.

According to Mayor Fernandez, the proposed ferry service will greatly boost the influx of tourists not only in Dagupan but also in Alaminos and San Fernando as travel time in between these cities will be shortened by 45 minutes.

He said the project is patterned after the very successful ferry service between Manila and Cavite.

Fernandez said landing berths will be provided in all the three cities, to be put up by their respective city governments.

The three cities expect a counterpart from the national government since this is a part of President Arroyo’s super regions project.

The Dagupan city government will commission a technical working group to conduct a feasibility study, according to Fernandez.

The city, he said targets activating the ferry service by next year, barring some technical hitches. (PIA)