The Department of Transportation (DOTr) yesterday said it has secured funding for project preparation studies of three major infrastructure projects which are expected to be rolled out in the next six years.
Pursuant to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the DOTr eyes to roll out more transportation public-private partnership (PPP) projects, prioritizing the development of transport systems in the sectors of aviation and airports, railways, maritime, and active road transport infrastructure.
The DOTr said the Committee on Public-Private Partnership Center Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) has approved the funding for project preparation studies of the North Long Haul Inter-Regional Railway (National Capital Region-Ilocos, Cagayan), NCR EDSA Busway, and the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry.
Forming part of the Luzon Railway Network along with the Subic-Clark Railway and the South Long Haul, the North Long Haul Inter-Regional Railway is slated to connect NCR to the regions of Ilocos and Cagayan.
The project is envisioned to cater to long-distance passengers and cargoes, improving access to major economic centers and strengthening supply chains for agricultural products. The project includes the construction of new stations and cargo terminals.
The NCR EDSA Busway will enhance the existing EDSA Carousel. New stations will be developed and existing facilities will be upgraded, aligned to international standards.
The Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry is set to be a high-capacity and high-quality mass transit ferry system, benefiting commuters, students and tourists in NCR, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
New ferry stations will also be built and existing facilities will be improved with intermodal transfers with other transit systems and active mobility networks.
Through the PDMF, international experts will be engaged to conduct high-quality and robust project preparation studies for these first three transportation PPP projects.
In a related development, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista yesterday expressed his gratitude to the Commission on Appointments (CA) after its members confirmed his ad-interim appointment.
Bautista said his confirmation as transportation secretary will be a confidence booster to complete multiple big-ticket infrastructure transport projects under the Marcos administration, while providing Filipinos with safe, affordable, comfortable and accessible transportation and elevating the country’s transportation systems to global standards.
