The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it has taken proactive measures to address issues in the implementation of flagship infrastructure projects, ensuring they stay on track for completion.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista in a briefing in Malacanang yesterday the agency has around 69 infrastructure flagship projects out of 186 projects approved by the National Economic and Development Authority.
Among the priority projects are the North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway, Metro Rail Transit line 4 (MRT 4), MRT 7, Light Rail Transit line 1 extension to Cavite, New Cebu International Container Port, Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul, Cebu International Container Port and New Dumaguete Airport.
“The major projects really are the rail projects, the North-South Commuter Railway. The 147-kilometer railway system that spans from Clark airport…it started during the previous administration. We are now working to complete this so that we can have partial operations by the end of 2028,” Bautista said.
However, Bautista said the DOTr has encountered implementation challenges like acquisition of properties and right-of-way issues, funding, relocation of informal settlers, utility relocation and property registration
“These issues are currently being addressed, and we have presented our proposed solutions to the Cabinet to ensure the successful implementation of all these projects before the President’s term ends,” said Bautista.
“We have organized an inter-agency committee among certain departments — DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highway), DOJ (Department of Justice), OSG (Office of the Solicitor General) and other government agencies for us to work together on the issue of the right-of-way,” he added.
The OSG, he said, will help in pursuing expropriation cases.
For the funding, Bautista said the DOTr is considering securing a loan to support its ongoing projects.
“We should be able to continue our projects. We can still avail of the loans so that we can fund these major projects like the Metro Manila Subway and the North-South Commuter Railway,” Bautista said.
