For generations, the daily commute in Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces has been synonymous with lost hours, missed moments, and dwindling productivity.
But a significant shift is underway, spearheaded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under Secretary Vince Dizon, who is fast-tracking major infrastructure projects to give back precious time to Filipino commuters.
The DOTr’s vision is clear: move beyond the old paradigm of simply building more roads.
Dizon said that to make commuting convenient and comfortable for commuters, the DOTr is building infrastructure that is commuter-centric, as well as encouraging car owners to use public transportation.
“Building high-capacity mass transit, building more walkways for people to walk, for people to bike, is really the way to go,” Sec. Dizon said.
He cited projects such as the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), North-South Commuter Railway System (NSCR), EDSA Busway modernization, and MRT-7, among others.
NSCR is one of the key projects that would help decongest Metro Manila roads. A flagship project under the “Build Better More” program, it is a mega railway network spanning 148 km., with 37 stations and 464 train cars and encompassing three segments―the PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban-Malolos), PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos-Clark) and PNR Calamba (Solis-Calamba).
The mass transport project will run across 26 cities and municipalities in Central Luzon, National Capital Region and Calabarzon.
The project aims to serve over 800,000 passengers daily once it becomes fully operational. The Clark to Valenzuela segment of the P874-billion NSCR System will start operations by 2028.
The Metro Manila Subway is projected to begin full operations in 2032. Billed as the Philippines’ “Crown Jewel” of mass transit system, the Metro Manila Subway will cut across eight cities stretching from Valenzuela City to FTI-Bicutan in Parañaque City with a spur line to NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
The 33-kilometer and 17-station rail line aims to cut travel time between Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City from the present one hour and 10 minutes to just 35 minutes.
Once operational, the underground railway system can service up to 370,000 passengers daily.
“The solution does not lie in building more roads, more wider roads. The solution lies in building high-capacity infrastructures for the commuters,” he explained.
Once the subway and Manila-Pampanga train system are completed, the four-hour commuting from Pampanga and Bulacan to Metro Manila and vice versa will be cut down to 30 minutes to one hour, the transport chief pointed out.
“This is game changing in the amount of savings, amount of quality time spent with family, and the amount of productivity that we can gain from all of these transportation projects, so we have to finish them,” he said.
Dizon also said that the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will be operational for passengers by 2027.
The speedy completion of the MRT-7 after more than a decade of delay is in compliance with the President’s order to expedite the project to speed up and make the commute more comfortable for commuters so they can relax and have time for family.
“I am very confident that the MRT-7 will be completed before the end of President Bongbong Marcos’ term. So by 2027, all our countrymen will be able to ride it,” Dizon said.
Currently, the overall progress of the MRT-7 is at 83.08 percent and is expected to serve 600,000 passengers per day in its first year of operation.
The MRT-7 project is a 22-kilometer elevated railway that will connect North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, with 14 stations.
Once operational, it is expected to significantly cut travel time, decongest major road corridors, and improve mobility across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Active Transportation
Dizon also said that the government is pushing for active transport-friendly infrastructure tol attract and encourage more Filipinos to use bicycles and walk to and from their destinations.
“Also making the environment in the city conducive for the people to walk. It’s so important. How can they walk if there is no infrastructure that will allow them to walk?” he said.
“Active transportation, bikes, walking that’s very important. We have to build that, and we have to plan for that. We just have to think out of the box and find ways like the EDSA Greenways. That’s one innovative way of helping our commuting public for those who want to walk,” he added.
Speeding up Implementation
To expedite the implementation of major transportation projects and alleviate commuter woes, Dizon previously issued a Department Order establishing a Flagship Project Management Office (FPMO). This new office aims to streamline and accelerate the progress of critical infrastructure initiatives.
Under Department Order 2025-002, the DOTr-FPMO will direct the policies and ensure the allotment of maximum effort and resources of the DOTr relative to the implementation of the priority infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs). The FPMO will also oversee and monitor the status of the IFPs.
Further, Dizon will closely monitor developments of each identified IFP, where timelines of partial operability and completion will be imposed.
“I have made this a PMO, I will head it myself. I will personally focus on the projects and that will be guided by very strict timelines. So we will impose deadlines for those projects,” he said.
As part of its functions, the DOTr-FPMO will also coordinate with the DOTr sectors and attached agencies, partner and implementing agencies, other departments and government offices relative to the implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of priority IFPs; and consolidate and mobilize agency resources to streamline and synchronize budgeting for and implementation of priority IFPs, among others.
