Transport is an essential part of the daily life of the Filippinos, from going to work and to school to transporting goods that feed the economy. For 126 years, the Department of Transportation (DOTR) has sent the development of the country’s infrastructure towards greater connectivity and mobility.
The origin of the Department goes back to January 1899, when it was founded as a Ministry of Public Welfare. At that time, transport and communication were part of a broader portfolio that was aimed at providing the immediate needs of the country in the field of public services.
In 2016, Republic ACT 10844 formed the Department of Transportation that will focus exclusively on transport policy, infrastructure development and enforcement of the Traffic Act.
Despite major changes, the DOTR has continued to make an effort to improve the lives of Filipinos through better transport systems.
Modernization of public transport
In response to the hidden roads and the decreasing air quality, the DOTR launched the Active Transport Program in 2024, in which running, cycling and other non-motorized transport were promoted as important urban mobility strategies.
Until now, almost 900 kilometers of cycle paths have been installed in 40 cities, including Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao. The DOTR has also installed 228 racks as part of the facilities for end rides, allowing cyclists to park safely.
In 2028, the department wants to expand the cycle path network to 2,400 kilometers. Via safe and accessible routes, the DOTR hopes to integrate bicycle -friendly infrastructure into urban cities.
In the meantime, the government is tackling the challenges in the field of mass food via the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP). This initiative aims to revise public transport of the country by tackling problems such as outdated vehicles, inefficient routes and fragmented franchises.
The PTMP also consolidates transport franchises to streamline the activities. The current fragmented system often causes confusion among commuters and inefficiency in services. With this strategy, the DOTR wants to create a better organized transport network, reduce redundancy and guarantee a smoother experience for commuters.
Since December 2024, 86% of public transport franchises have been consolidated, which clears the way for streamlined activities. The success of the program depends on local public transport route plans (LPTRPs), which identify sustainable routes within local government units (LGUs).
So far, 1,170 LGUs have submitted their LPTRPs, with 222 plans being approved. In addition, 80 LGUs have published circulars in which routes for franchise applications are opened.
Davao City is at the forefront with his ambitious Public Transport Modernization Program (DPTMP). The initiative, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will create a 672 kilometer route network with 29 interconnected routes, five depots and a fleet of almost 1,000 buses, including 300 electric units. The program is expected to serve 700,000 to 1 million passengers daily and will convert commuting into more efficient, environmentally friendly experiences. The work will start at the end of 2026.
In Cebu, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will connect important parts of Cebu City with fast, reliable and comfortable transport. The system will include 22 stations, spread over 35 kilometers. A groundbreaking public-private partnership that was awarded to Megawide last December yields an investment of P28 billion in the project. Once operational in 2027, the Cebu BRT is expected to serve 100,000 to 300,000 passengers daily, which significantly improves mobility in one of the busiest nodes in the country.
The expansion of Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 1, on the other hand, has increased the capacity of the line by 80,000 passengers per day. Forests traveling from Baclaran to Sucat, can now complete their journey in less than 20 minutes via the extensive rail system. For shorter journeys, including the five new stations that have been added to the network, the time saving is even greater, with some journeys taking less than 10 minutes. This development marks an important milestone for Metro Manila, where the daily traffic jams cost the economy an estimated 3.5 billion euros according to the DOTR.
Rebuilding gates in the country
The long-awaited modernization of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) is underway, with a 15-year concession agreement awarded to New Naia Infra Corp. (NNIC), led by San Miguel Corp. The project includes a complete overhaul aimed at tackling the problems growing demand for air travel.
“Manila International Airport has the capacity to process only 35 million passengers, but we have nearly 50 million passengers. Due to the capacity, we are confronted with a traffic jam problem. We know this has been happening for years. That is why the Ministry of Transport has decided to privatize this, “said DOTR secretary Jaime J. Bautista.
In the meantime, the modernization of regional airports supports the wider vision of the department to improve mobility and to stimulate economic development in the provinces.
For example, the International Airport Laguindan, the most important gateway to North Mindanao, will undergo a considerable transformation. Aboitiz Infracapital will manage the upgrade, including the expansion of the facilities and the construction of a new passenger terminal building.
In the same way, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, known as the ‘Green Poort to the World’, will be modernized under a 30-year concession agreement with Aboitiz Infracapital. After completion, the airport will be able to process 3.9 million passengers annually, together with 35,000 air traffic movements.
In addition, the department, together with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), led the new and improved Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in the port of Batangas in April 2024.
Sailing to modern infrastructure
Together with its partners such as the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the Filipino Coast Guard (PCG), the Filipino port authority (PPA) and the Cebu Port Authority (CPA), the DOTR leads a series of maritime initiatives aimed at transforming the transport landscape of transport landscape of The country.
The Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) of the port of Batangas is the most modern facility under the ports managed by the PPA, and serves between mainland Luzon and the Mimaropa region (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), as well as to Iloilo, Negros, Cebu and Mindanao. The recently updated terminal now offers space to travel via fast ships, ferries and roll-on/roll-off ships, which process more than $ 8,000 in freight and passenger movements.
Another project in the context of the Maritime Modernization Agenda of the DOTR is the construction of the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP) with a value of $ 16.9 billion. This project, which will develop in Consolacion, Cebu, is intended to relieve the existing Cebu-Basishaven, which has been struggling with overcapacity for a long time. The NCICP will not only expand the logistics capacity of the country, but also streamlin the freight handling processes, reducing the logistics costs.
With an access road of 1,365 meters and an offshore bridge of 300 meters that will be built as part of the project, the new port will offer access easier and improve connectivity with the rest of the region. The completion of the port is planned for November 2027.
Strengthening the rights and skills of seafarers
This year, the DOTR completed the implementation rules and regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta of Filipino seafarers. With this new legislation, the rights and well -being of Filipino seafarers, both domestic and overseas, are now better guaranteed.
The IRR establishes a comprehensive framework that includes four important provisions: strengthening the rights of seafarers, promoting equality and inclusiveness, promoting maritime education and training, and guaranteeing accountability. This legislation promises to improve the quality of life of Filipino seafarers, to offer them more job security and to ensure that their voice is heard in both domestic and international maritime industry.
The Philippines have also strengthened their position on the white list of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and acknowledged that the country meets the international standards for training, certification and guard service (STCW) for seafarers.
After years of efforts to tackle shortcomings from the past with full compliance with the standards for seafarers, the European Agency for Maritime Security (EMSA) has recognized considerable improvements after an audit in December 2023.
“Earlier, the European Agency for Maritime Security (EMSA) saw that the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping For Seafarers) of the country are missing,” explains Mr Bautista. “We had a meeting with EMSA and gave them our proposed solution. They were happy because they saw the improvements that our government made. In March they said that they are[defilipijnenopdewittelijstzullenenbasten”[ThePhilippinesintheWhitelist”[deFilippijnenopdewittelijstzullenblijvenopnemen”[thePhilippinesinthewhitelist”
Railways in steady progress
Although there is substantial cutbacks, as stated during this year’s first full cabinet meeting, Mr Bautista said that the cutbacks mainly have consequences for the proceeds from project loans supported by abroad, and not so much for current projects.
Large initiatives such as the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway, which are an integral part of reducing congestion and stimulating economic productivity, will be continued as planned.
“We should be able to finance this with the proceeds from the loan,” he explained. “We are happy that the government share of most of our infrastructure projects has not been reduced, so we will continue to implement these programs.”
Mr Bautista said that the DOTR currently manages 69 flagship infrastructure projects of the 186 approved by the Council of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
While the Ministry of Transport marks the new year in the Public Service, it remains to be committed to guaranteeing transparency, building trust in the public and developing a world -class transport network that connects communities and the quality of life of millions of Filippinos improves. – Micole A. Moral