Ilocos Norte transport hub set to ease traffic by 2027
Artist rendering of Ilocos Norte Transport Hub (Vice Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc photo)
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) aims to complete a multimodal transportation hub in Ilocos Norte by 2027, thereby further easing traffic congestion in the province.
Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor stated that the government is currently working on the construction of the Ilocos Norte Transport Hub and its accompanying parking building.
The first phase of the project, which broke ground in February 2024, was completed in August of the same year.
As of Aug. 13, the project’s second phase is now 80 percent complete.
Pastor said the 23,577-square-meter (sqm) transport hub is targeted for completion and full operations by the fourth quarter of 2027.
“By this time, we are expecting a significant rebound of the commuting experience to and from Ilocos Norte,” Pastor said during the 2025 Transportation Forum hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).
The Ilocos Norte Transport Hub is envisioned to be an intermodal terminal featuring multi-level platforms designed to accommodate various modes of transportation.
Patterned after the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), the transport hub will allow passengers to access public utility jeepneys, buses, taxis, vans, and tricycles all under one roof.
The transport hub, situated in San Pedro, Laoag City, is seen to alleviate traffic congestion across business districts in the city and the province as a whole.
The project had a funding of ₱380 million under the 2022 national budget and ₱700 million for 2024, which was transferred to the DOTr in July.
Palafox Associates, which was tapped to design the project, said last year that the project will feature a mixed-use development that integrates retail spaces, government offices, and parks, among others.
The architectural design firm said the transport hub was conceptualized to reflect modern Ilocano architecture, with a strong focus on sustainable components such as solar roofing, rainwater harvesting, natural lighting, and ventilation, and electric charging stations.
The provincial government of Ilocos Norte previously said that the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC) will be in charge of overseeing the operations and maintenance of the facility.
Around 5,000 public transport drivers and operators are expected to benefit from the project once operational.