Photo credit: DOTr

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is making transportation a top priority before his term ends in 2028, ordering the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to speed up key projects that will ease the struggles of millions of Filipinos.

"The President Feels the Pain of Our People"

Newly appointed Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon shared that Marcos is determined to reduce daily commuting woes, calling transportation a nightmare that Filipinos relive every day.

“We spoke at length about this and gusto niyang (President Marcos) maibsan ang hirap ng mga kababayan natin sa transportasyon, sa lahat ng bagay – healthcare, education, agriculture,” Dizon said during a Malacañang press briefing.

“Pero iyong transportation araw-araw iyan eh, parang nightmare na uulitin mo every day and the President really feels the pain of our people. And that’s why he said, the first thing he said, ‘All these projects have to be fast-tracked.’”

Priority Projects on the Fast Track

The President’s must-finish list includes:
🚇 Metro Manila Subway – A game-changer for urban commuters
🚆 North-South Commuter Railway – Connecting key regions faster
✈️ Regional Airports – Boosting tourism and business growth
⚓ Seaports & Agricultural Ports – Lowering transport costs for goods and food

Dizon said he hopes Filipinos will soon experience a world-class subway system like those in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

He also emphasized the privatization of airports to accelerate their development, particularly in Palawan, while expanding port infrastructure to address high food prices caused by poor connectivity.

“Ang dating mga ports kailangan talagang… lalo—just today, the President wants to expand our port system, especially our agricultural ports. Because one reason why the price of food is so high is because of connectivity, because of transport cost,” Dizon explained.

With these projects now being fast-tracked, could Metro Manila’s infamous traffic jams and public transport woes finally be coming to an end?