The Department of Transportation on Wednesday bared the benefits the long-gestation projects designed to address perennial traffic congestion in Metro Manila through big-ticket transport infrastructure projects.
Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the long-term gains and benefits Filipinos get from the big-ticket transport projects will eclipse the short-term inconvenience the projects present at the moment as these will help improve mobility and connectivity en masse down the line.
Bautista, at the Bagong Pilipinas town hall meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said the transport projects offer private vehicle owners a better commuting alternative, resulting to lesser vehicles on the roads.
“I want to emphasize the long-term goal of our transport infrastructure projects, such as the ongoing construction of railway systems, in providing permanent solutions to the traffic problem in the metropolis,” Bautista said.
“Our flagship road and rail infrastructures aim to alleviate traffic by offering comfortable, efficient and accessible public transport as better alternative to private vehicle owners, thus lowering the number of road users,” he stressed.
The Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) big-ticket infrastructure projects include the MRT-7, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, Metro Manila Subway, North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System, Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, improvement of the EDSA Busway, and the EDSA Greenways Project.
Bautista urged inter-agency coordination to help speed up the completion of these projects.
“The success of our transport projects hinges on their timely completion, requiring the cooperation of multiple agencies. It requires a cohesive effort with agencies,” he said.
Road safety, driver discipline and use of non-motorized vehicles will also help promote order on the road and ensure efficient movement of vehicles, according to Bautista.
Various national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) were present during the town hall discussions to tackle solutions in solving Metro Manila’s traffic woes.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday streamlined the list of infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs)
A total 185 infrastructure flagship projects estimated to cost P9.14 trillion form the bulk of the “Build-Better-More” program under President Marcos Jr.
