Philippine Development Plan To Prioritize Mass Transport

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) as the blueprint for social and economic development, will prioritize mass transport in the next six years.

PDP will mainly focus on developing railways, road-based, and ferry systems in metropolitan areas.

DOTr said the roll-out of the planned rail infrastructure projects will be pursued “aggressively.”

The railway projects will be from north to south and from east to west, connecting growth nodes and strategic infrastructure.

Similarly, inter-city rails will be built in metropolitan areas across the country, and policies will be implemented to ensure the availability of highly specialized spare parts and supplies.

Moreover, the PDP seeks to adopt rapid bus transit systems for more efficient use of public transport vehicles and road spaces that are already in place.

Existing ferry systems will be upgraded as an alternative mode of transportation. Other coastal and inland waterways transport systems will be built to improve port connectivity to the national transport system.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the 2023-2028 PDP in December.

Source: Manila Bulletin