Transportation infrastructure projects can directly employ at least 80,000 Filipinos, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista announced during President Marcos’ Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) in Singapore, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
“The DOTr is prioritizing major projects in rail—right now, we have six important projects that are ongoing construction and we hope that we will be able to complete these between 2025 to 2029,” he elaborated.
The agency is also focusing on implementing three major projects in the aviation sector within the next six years.
These include the Bulacan Airport (New Manila International Airport), Sangley Airport in Cavite and the modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The aviation projects "will support the projects of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and it will also allow us to give better experience to travellers—both foreigners and the Filipinos,” the DOTr Secretary added.
Also part of the DOTr’s plan to improve the country’s transportation system are the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Davao Modernized BRT.
“All these projects will provide employment. For the rail sector, we are looking at 60,000 direct employment. For the other sectors, aviation and road, we are looking at at least 10-20,000 direct employment,” he underscored.
“We expect that all these projects will contribute our economic growth,” Bautista concluded.