Marcos admin bent on modernizing transport system
HOUSE Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Manix” Dalipe said the Marcos administration is committed to improving the transport system and addressing the woes of commuters.
This is the reason why the administration is proposing an increase in the government spending on modernizing and expanding the country’s railway system.
In welcoming this increase, Dalipe said the thrust of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. shows his vision to develop a fast, efficient, and easily accessible mass transportation system and decongest the horrendous traffic gridlock in metropolitan areas like Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.
Dalipe said the appointment of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez are also solid indications that President Marcos is dead serious in his promise to develop a world-class national railway system.
“ We are happy that the new administration’s thrust in solving our transportation problem is to expand and modernize our railways. This should have been the priority a long time ago and we would never have to endure the monstrous traffic in Metro Manila. The railway is still the easiest and fastest way to transport people, not cars,” Dalipe said.
“We will not just solve our traffic problem but we can also decongest Metro Manila’s population. If we have a modern rail system. Filipinos would definitely choose to live outside of Metro Manila,” he added.
The Philippines was among the first countries in Southeast Asia to have a light rail system but its expansion was derailed by mismanagement and lack of prioritization. He added the Philippine National Railways which used to cut all the way from La Union in the Ilocos Region up to Legaspi City in the Bicolandia also deteriorated due to funding cuts and allegations of corruption.
From P23.12 billion in 2022, the proposed budget swelled to P113.99 billion for next year which is almost five times the previous budget.
Dalipe said the increase is expected to bankroll various big-ticket railway projects. With only 76.9 kilometers of operational railways, the government plans to build an additional 1,200 kilometers of railways which could provide transportation for 4.5 million passengers a day.
