Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said the mass transportation projects the government will undertake shortly are expected to greatly boost the country’s tourism ijndustry.
“Improving and modernizing our transport systems will be crucial at ensuring tourists enjoy their vacations that start with travel to and from their homes,” he said at the recent Travel Madness Expo 2024 in Pasay City.
Bautista cited aviation projects such as the modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Laguindingan, and Bohol-Panglao Airports as well as the construction of the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan.
Among the road transportation projects he mentioned are the PUV modernization program, expansion of the country’s bike lanes, and the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) Busway which he said will greatly ease commuters’ travel.
The several rail projects he cited as “now in “full blast” are North-South Commuter Railway, the Metro Manila Subway, the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension, the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), and the rehabilitation of MRT-3.
Bauista said DOTr and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) have also completed several port projects with more on the way like the improvement of the Jose Pangabiban Port in Camarines Norte and the development of the Babatngon Port in Leyte.