𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐑𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐇 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐒𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌

 Pursuant to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) eyes to roll out more transportation PPP projects, prioritizing the development of transport systems in the sectors of aviation and airports, railways, maritime, and active road transport infrastructure.

In this regard, 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 (NCR-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 the National Capital Region (NCR) to the regions of Ilocos and Cagayan.

It is envisioned to cater to long-distance passengers and cargoes, which shall then improve 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, on the other hand, will greatly enhance the existing EDSA Carousel. New stations will be developed and existing facilities will be enhanced to be universally accessible, gender responsive, and climate resilient. Capacity, comfort, and reliability of transport services will likewise be upgraded and aligned to international standards.

The Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry, meanwhile, is set to be a high-capacity and high-quality mass transit ferry system, benefiting commuters, students, and tourists in NCR, Region III, and Region IV-A. New ferry stations will also be built and existing facilities will be improved with intermodal transfers with other transit systems and active mobility networks.

The Marcos Administration sees the “great potential” of PPPs to strengthen regional logistics networks and make commuting more comfortable, reliable, and affordable. During the first 100 days, the current administration revised the Build-Operate-Transfer Law Implementing Rules and Regulations to attract more private investors and to streamline government processes.

Through the PDMF, international experts will be engaged to conduct high-quality and robust project preparation studies for these first three transportation PPP projects.

It’s always good news whenever there are efforts from the government to try and improve the country’s mass transport system. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has now shared that it is eyeing to roll out more Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects focused on further developing transport infrastructure.

The Committee on Public-Private Partnership Center Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) has just approved the funding for project preparation studies of three major undertakings: the North Long Haul Inter-Regional Railway (NCR-Ilocos, Cagayan), the NCR EDSA Busway, and the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry.

The new railway aims to connect the capital to the northern regions of Ilocos and Cagayan. It will provide long-distance transport for both commuters and cargo, and it will include the construction of new stations and cargo terminals.

The NCR EDSA Busway, meanwhile, will build on the existing busway system on the major thoroughfare. There will be new stations built along the current network, and the capacity, comfort, and reliability of the transport services will be upgraded and “aligned to international standards.”

As for the third among the three, this one seeks to connect the metro to areas in Regions III and IV-A via a high-capacity, high-quality mass transit ferry system. The new ferry service will have “intermodal transfers with other transit systems and active mobility networks.”

Sounds promising enough, no? These will be part of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, so we expect at least significant progress to be made within the term of the current administration.