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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has directed newly-sworn in Transport Secretary Vivencio ‘Vince’ Dizon to fast-track ongoing transport projects and start projects in the pipeline to help ease the burden of the riding public
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Some projects that should be fast-tracked include the Metro Manila Subway Project, North-South Commuter Railway, privatization of regional airports, and expansion of the country’s ports system, ‘especially agricultural ports’
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On addressing traffic issues, particularly in Metro Manila, Dizon pointed to mass transportation as the long-term solution
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. directed newly-sworn in Transport Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon to fast-track ongoing transport projects and start projects in the pipeline to help ease the burden of the riding public.
“…ang unang-unang sinabi ng ating Pangulo, (The first thing the President said) we have to fast track all the ongoing projects of the past administration and also start the projects that are in the pipeline so that in five years, six years, ten years, fifteen years kahit papaano mababawas-bawasan na natin itong hirap na dinaranas ng mga kababayan natin araw-araw, (we can somehow lessen the daily hardships felt by the public)” Dizon, who was officially sworn into office by Marcos on February 21, said in a Malacañang press briefing on the same day.
Dizon replaced Jaime Bautista, who resigned due to health reasons.
Some ongoing projects that should be fast-tracked, he said, include the Metro Manila Subway Project, North-South Commuter Railway, privatization of regional airports, and expansion of the country’s ports system, “especially agricultural ports.”
On addressing traffic issues, particularly in Metro Manila, Dizon said the “long-term and ultimate” solution is through mass transportation, noting the need for the subway, and more MRT wagons.
The transport chief said Marcos wants to speed up mass transit systems for commuter efficiency and help Filipinos veer away from a car-centric mindset.
“We have to veer away from that [car-centric Metro Manila] and that’s what the President wants,” he said.
He acknowledged though that easing traffic issues will take time and that the last three years of the current administration will not be enough to do so.
“…we’re not going to fix it in three years. We just have to accept that, we’re not going to fix traffic in five years, maybe not even in 10 years. But we can do some things now to slowly alleviate the commuter and the motorists’ experience, while we are fast tracking the big-ticket infrastructure projects.”
“That will be the ultimate solution to the traffic and congestion problem,” Dizon said.
As transition at DOTr is still ongoing, Dizon asked for a few more weeks until they can share his department’s detailed plans for the land, air, and water sectors.
Dizon also said there will be a shake-up in the DOTr and that he will be bringing in previous DOTr officials so they don’t have to learn the ropes as there are only three years remaining in the current administration.
He said some new undersecretaries will be coming in but said he is not at liberty to disclose who and will leave the announcement to the Office of the President.
