NextGen Day

MANILA – Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade highlighted the agency’s successes since the Duterte government began in 2016.

Tugade said the DOTr has completed 250 airport and aviation projects, 1,200 km of completed and ongoing railway projects, 579 completed and 163 ongoing maritime projects, and many other road transport and transportation projects in six years.

These projects are in response to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s command to “make Filipino living comfortable and convenient,” despite the country’s “50-year-old” transport infrastructure.

Tugade said the DOTr needed short-, medium-, and long-term plans.

These low-hanging fruits include fixing the backlog of plate numbers and driver’s licenses at the LTO, “laglag-bala,” bukas-bagahe, and other concerns at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“NAIA was labeled ‘one of the world’s worst airports.’ “After one year, it was one of the world’s best airports,” Tugade added.

The 250 completed airport projects include repair, restoration, and new airports and infrastructure, he said.

These airports include Clark International Airport (CRK) with its new “world-class” Terminal 2, the “scenic” Bicol International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, and Zamboanga International Airport, among others.

He stated DOTr upgraded satellite communications and night-rated airports.

“We started with nine radar systems. Added 10 today. We’ve secured Philippine airspace so travel is convenient and predictable, said Tugade.

More than 10 airports may already operate at night, he said.

In the railway sector, he emphasized the rehabilitation of the MRT-3, the completion of the LRT-2 East Extension, and the ongoing building of the MRT-7, the Metro Manila Subway, and the Common Station.

Other continuing rail projects are PNR Clark Phase 1, PNR Bicol, and Mindanao Railways, which should be partially operational by 2025.

In the maritime sector, half of all finished projects were built by the DOTr and the other half by the Philippine Ports Authority and other DOTr agencies.

These port projects included Salomague, Ilocos Sur, and Puerto Princesa, which is connected to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Several air-conditioned passenger terminal buildings were built in various ports, he said.

“There’s never been a passenger terminal with those capacity,” said Tugade.

In 2016, he reported the PCG had 6,000 members.

He said the PCG has 22,400 employees and has completed initiatives like training centers and the acquisition of advanced maritime equipment including two 97-meter multi-role response vessels from Japan.

In road transport and infrastructure, he cited the Paraaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s Service Contracting Program, Libreng Sakay (free ride), the public utility vehicle modernization program, and the creation of bike lanes across the country.

“In six years, we may not have solved all transport issues. We’ve tackled numerous. Never before has the DOTr done so much so quickly… Tugade: “We delivered.”

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