The Philippine government is modernizing airports and building new railways to transform the country’s transportation landscape.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the Philippines needs to catch up in terms of infrastructure to speed up the country’s economic growth, which will translate into inclusive progress.
According to the International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) 2024 World Competitiveness Ranking for infrastructure, the Philippines ranks 61st out of 67 countries. This was a drop from the 58th spot in 2023.
“We need to catch up in infrastructure development to be able to accelerate economic progress. Our government firmly believes an efficient transport system would lead to inclusive economic growth,” said Bautista.
Bautista said aming the big-ticket airport projects of the government are the modernization of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Laguinduingan Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport as well as airports in Kalibo, Puerto Princesa and Iloilo.
In the railways sector, Bautista identified the North-South Commuter Railway, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, Metro Manila Subway, MRT-7, MRT-4 and Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway.
Bautista said these major projects aim to ensure efficient commuter mobility and increased inter-island connectivity.
He said that once these mega transport projects are completed, they are “bound to stir up the status quo” in the transport sector.
“Overarching goal of these projects is to improve mobility and connectivity because we find the status quo in the transport sector unacceptable,” Bautista said.
Bautista said expressways are also being built or expanded to link the regions with Metro Manila and other urban centers.
The DOTr is also studying the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake River Ferry (MAPALLA)—a high-capacity, low carbon ferry system that will link Manila Bay and Laguna Lake through the Pasig River.
Another road project is the upcoming Southeast Metro Manila Expressway that will stretch from Taguig through Pasig, Marikina and San Mateo along the C6 highway in the eastern section of the metropolis.
Meanwhile, Bautista said the Philippines is pushing for vehicle and road safety, accident prevention, carbon neutrality and regulation of the automotive industry consistent with the region’s standards.
“We must realize though that this initiative to harmonize vehicle standards and regulations has evolved and encompassed related critical issues, paramount of which is road safety, a cornerstone embedded in the four sectors of our transport industry,” he said.
Bautista cited the Philippines’ initiatives on road safety as well as protection of the environment, starting with compliance to the provisions of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan to reduce the number of road traffic deaths by 35 percent by year 2028.
The transport chief said existing rules are in place to ensure enhanced compliance to standards on vehicle roadworthiness and driver education, along with making pedestrians trained on road safety.
The DOTr, he said, is advocating shift to electric cars, complementing simultaneous construction of electric railways to reduce carbon emissions.
Bautista also said private investments and expertise have been poured into 12 existing and five future expressways, providing wide lateral connectivity.
