The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is fast-tracking the completion of big-ticket transportation infrastructure projects throughout the country, Secretary Jaime J. Bautista announced Monday, Oct. 10, during the Economic Journalists’ Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Forum at the PICC, Pasay City.

The agency is “pushing the pedal to the metal” to finish projects in the road, aviation, railway, and maritime sectors to ensure progress for every Filipino, he underscored.

“As we Build Better More, we aim to reduce travel costs, create domestic trade opportunities, unlock the economic potential of the regions through investments and business stimulation and by facilitating the exchange of goods by integrating them into the local, regional or global value chains,” according to Bautista.

Only a vibrant and modern transport system can boost Filipinos’ productivity and efficiency, he added.

"During the first 100 days, we have gone full speed at modernizing the country's transport facilities by pursuing and improving the past governments transport projects."

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To ensure a smooth transition in the opening of face-to-face classes, the DOTr opened additional routes for public utility vehicles (PUVs) and provided free rides (Libreng Sakay) to more than 700,000 studentsat the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-2.

"We crossed departmental boundaries, threshing out issues - especially transport accessibility - to ensure students can safely and conveniently commute to their schools," he explained.

"We reopened 190 routes that were used by 12,255 authorized buses and jeepneys."

"We succeeded at extending Libreng Sakay on the EDSA Busway up to end of December 2022, after securing additional budget of Php 1.4 billion from the Department of Budget and Management. To date, over than 19,000 drivers in total have benefited from the program."

The DOTr will also oversee the start of the civil works of three busway concourses along the EDSA —at SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA and SM Megamall.

In the rail sector, DOTr broke ground for the Ortigas and Shaw Blvd. Stations of the P488.4 billion Metro Manila Subway and signed the contracts for the last segment of the 147-kilometer-long North-South Commuter Railway.

The NSCR is Asian Development Banks single-largest official development assistance loan for a project, pegged at P873 billion.

Other big-ticket railway projects will also continue under the Build Better More initiative, including the Common Station, the P68.2 Billion MRT-7 project, and the P64.9 billion LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project.

The DOTr is also addressing air and maritime connectivity needs by building more airports and seaports, as well as modernizing existing ones.

Secretary Bautista cited San Miguel Corporation's P735 million New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, the recently-opened passenger terminal building (PTB) of the Clark International Airport in Clark, Pampanga, and the P500 million Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) in Cavite, the construction of which starts in 2023.

"Clark Airports rapid development is a solid showcase of the effectiveness of partnering with the private sector, which I believe is key to accomplishing many of our projects," Baitista noted.

Outside the capital, 10 regional airports are planned to be upgraded, expanded and operated under a Public-Private Partnership scheme.

These include airports in Bohol, Laguindingan, Bicol, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Bacolod, Kalibo, Busuanga and Siargao.

An additional 4 new regional airports in Dumaguete, Siargao, Zamboanga and Masbate will also be built.

The agency targets to complete P1 trillion airport projects by 2023.

"We are also looking at modernizing existing major international gateways through ongoing projects such as the P206.96 million airside improvement projects at Bicol International Airport," he added.

"While there may be challenges in the completion of these big-ticket projects, the DOTr and other aviation agencies continuously work towards creating a fully connected Philippine sky."

The DOTr will also tap the Pasig River Ferry System as an alternative and convenient corridor for commuters, says Bautista.

Projected passenger demand is estimated at nearly 43,000 passengers a day by year 2025, to increase to 83,500 daily passengers by year 2030.

Add to that, the transport chief assured that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will continue with its modernization and reinforce its capability to ensure the country’s maritime safety and security through the Maritime Safety Enhancement Project.