THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said its big-ticket projects will bring not just socio-economic benefits to millions of Filipinos but also help restore and sustain the country’s transport industry.
According to DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, these flagship transport infrastructure projects such as railway systems are seen to provide the public with improved mobility and connectivity across the country.
“The big-ticket railway projects of the Department of Transportation aim to resurrect the country’s once thriving rail industry while promoting a highly sustainable form of transportation,” Bautista said during the 1st Philippine Railway Conference (PhilRainCon).
The transport chief said the government is speeding up the completion of other projects in the road, aviation, and maritime sectors as convenient and efficient access to airports and seaports promotes business and tourism in the regions.
With what he called “shovel-ready” infra projects and human capital investment, Bautista added the transport department is “pushing this multi-sectoral approach to urban development.”
Bautista said a huge chunk of the DOTr’s budget is allocated to projects such as the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, MRT-3 rehabilitation, MRT-7, MRT-4, North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway, South Long-Haul Railway, Mindanao Railway, North Long-Haul Project, San Mateo Railway, MRT-10, MRT-11, and LRT-6.
He added that Active Transport Program, Automated Fare Collection System, and Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), along with other land and road-based initiatives, are also part of the many projects that follow the principles of transit-oriented development (TOD).
Bautista said that of the 197 infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) approved by the National Economic Development (NEDA), 73 are being undertaken by DOTr with a total value of P4.775 trillion.
DOTr projects in the pipeline are more than 160, including 28 projects under the aviation sector, 26 under maritime, 59 under railways and 47 under roads.