The Department of Transportation (DOTr) vows to continuously push for the development and faster completion of transport infrastructure projects.
A year of building
Since the BBB Program launch on 3 November 2016 in Malacanang, the DOTr has broken ground and started construction of some of the big-ticket infrastructure projects under the program.
In April, the DOTr led the ground breaking of the Cavite Gateway Terminal, the country’s first barge terminal to be developed in a six-hectare property in Tanza. It is expected to reduce truck trips in Metro Manila by 140,000 trips annually, while maximizing the use of the country’s nautical highways.
Several ports in the country are also being improved and modernized: Iloilo, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Basco, Bataraza, Calapan, Catagbacan, Dapitan, Larena, Legazpi, Makar, Matnog, Opol, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tubigon, Iligan and Surigao.
In the railways sector, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project was finally green lit for construction after years of delay. The current line will be extended from Baclaran to Niog in Bacoor, Cavite, serving around 300,000 riders per day from Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Cavite.
In the east, LRT-2 will also be extended from Santolan to Antipolo, reducing travel time from Recto to Masinag from 3 hours by jeep or bus to just 40 minutes.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade is likewise pushing for partial operability of the Metro Manila Subway system, which is set for construction in 2019 and targeted for full completion in 2025.
Pending since 2009, the construction of the Common Station has finally started following the ground breaking last September 29. It will provide a seamless intermodal connectivity between LRT Line 1, MRT3, MRT7, and the Metro Manila Subway. It is expected to service up to 478,000 riders per day by 2020.
Under airports and aviation, the new terminal at the Puerto Princesa International Airport was formally opened to the public last May 4. The terminal spans 13,000 sqm. with a 2,600-meter runway that can accommodate bigger aircraft and around 1.9 million passengers annually.
After 11 years of delay, the DOTr has also finally resumed construction of the Bicol International Airport in Albay.
Expansion and improvement projects in Bacolod (Silay) Airport, Davao International Airport, Iloilo Airport, and Laguindingan Airport are currently being undertaken. Runway lengthening and widening in Kalibo, Virac, Calbayog, Ozamiz and Cotabato have also begun. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is likewise fast-tracking rehabilitation and expansion work in eight airports --- Naga, Tuguegarao, Cauayan, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Cotabato, Pagadian and Ozamiz --- to make them capable for night-time flight operations.
The Communications Navigation Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM), a state-of-the-art and satellite-based air traffic management system will be fully operational by December 2017. This year, an additional 10 radars were established across the country, bringing the total to 13.
Coming in 2018
In 2018, the public will finally get to experience some of these high-impact projects.
First off is the Cavite Gateway Terminal, which is due for completion during the first quarter of 2018. In April 2018, the Southwest Intermodal Transport Exchange will be completed. The facility will provide seamless transfers, fixed departure schedules, and centralized ticketing system for provincial buses.
At about the same time in June, two airports will be inaugurated --- the New Bohol Airport in Panglao, the country’s first eco-airport, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the world’s first resort airport.
Meanwhile, the LRT-2 east Extension Project will be completed in August 2018.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
