Transport & Logistics

The Philippines and Oman are set to conduct bilateral air service negotiations before the end of 2026 to increase direct flights between the two nations, aiming to serve overseas Filipino workers, strengthen tourism, and expand trade ties. Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez met with Oman’s Ambassador to the Philippines Nasser Said Abdullah Al Manwari on July 16 to kick off discussions on broader transport cooperation.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that it is getting ready to award critical construction segments for the $3.91-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said that key contracts for sections over Manila Bay will be finalized soon, building on earlier progress like last year's award for a 1.3-kilometer land approach road in Cavite. The massive infrastructure project is funded through a partnership between the Philippine government and the Asian Development Bank, which provided a $2.11-billion loan.

Port users are urging regulators to tighten proposed reforms on cargo handling and container yard operations, arguing that stronger safeguards are needed to ensure lower logistics costs as the government pushes to modernize Philippine ports.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) are positioning the Port of Subic Bay as a strategic logistics hub for the country's growing artificial intelligence and semiconductor ambitions, a move aimed at strengthening the Philippines' role in high-value global supply chains.

The government is moving to remove tax hurdles that have long weighed on the Philippines' aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry, betting that policy tweaks could unlock fresh aerospace investments and keep billions of pesos in business from flying overseas.