February 8th, 12:06am February 7th, 11:23pm Mario J. Mallari

Casting away political considerations in the implementation of projects contributed to the quick development of infrastructure that in turn supported the economy’s robust growth was how Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade described the pragmatic approach in his leadership.

Make the Filipino lives comfortable. And as you make them comfortable, make sure that you put up these infrastructures

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is a key agency in implementing President Rodrigo Duterte’s flagship projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

Catalyst of excellence Department of Transportation chieftain Arthur Tugade says receiving an award, similar to the honor given by Daily Tribune yesterday, pushes him and his agency to do better. ROY PELOVELLO

For the DoTr, the President said: “Make the Filipino lives comfortable. And as you make them comfortable, make sure that you put up these infrastructures,” Tugade said.

“We are developing more roll-on, roll-off (RORO) routes to speed up travel. That was started during the term of former President Gloria Arroyo,” he said during the regular “Straight Talk with Daily Tribune” forum.

He said the program provides seamless maritime transportation for an archipelagic country that was abandoned by the administration of former President Benigno Aquino.

“But we continued it,” he said, referring to the Duterte administration.

According to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the country will have 19 new RORO routes, Tugade said.

“We are building on a legacy, which is one of the nice things about President Arroyo, that was her setting up of the nautical highway,” he added.

He said an effective solution to the congested roads in Metro Manila is the construction of railways, including the proposed subway in Makati City that can accommodate 700,000 passengers. By April or May, boring machines to be used in excavating the proposed subway site will be brought into the country.

The government eyes the partial operability of the proposed subway by 2022, which means that three subway stations will open. A common station for the elevated train systems will also break ground this month.

Also to be unveiled this month is a P777-billion railway project that would traverse through Tutuban to Malolos, Bulacan all the way to Calamba, Laguna and Clark, Pampanga that will be called North-South commuter rail.

“For many years, this country has been exposed to promises and expectations, which never happened, but today, in a period of two years, you will see growth.”

The government targets to expand railway infrastructure, which is expected to reach 1,900 kilometers from the existing 77-kilometer currently in operation.

From four rail systems, which are the Light Rail Transit Systems, the LRT-1 and LRT-2; the Manila Metro Rail Transit System or the MRT-3, and the Philippine National Railways (PNR), 10 new railway projects are being constructed.

Ongoing projects include MRT-7, LRT-2 Extension and Common Station while construction for PNR Clark, PNR Calamba, PNR Bicol, LRT-1 Extension, Subic-Clark Cargo Railway, Metro Manila Subway and Mindanao Railway is under way, Tugade said.

“This year, all the loan arrangements for the Japanese portion of the railroad projects are all in place. So that by this year, the subway and the rail movement from Tutuban to Clark and from Tutuban to Calamba, all these will be started, inaugurated within the year,” he noted.

Tugade promised Filipinos will be riding on a subway before the end of Duterte administration.

Before President Duterte steps down in 2022, the problem of congested airports would have been a thing of the past, according to Tugade.

“Let me put you into what I called the aviation roadmap in which we improve and develop existing airports, put up new ones and secure each of them. We are improving existing airports at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). We are also doing that in Clark,” he said.

“Most of the airports will be night-rated, runways increased, terminals developed while we look for new airports,” he said.

“What are these new airports? One which we are looking at, based on a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study and based on submitted proposal, is the one in Bulacan which San Miguel Corp. submitted. It is now in the concession agreement stage which will go through the solicitor general. Next would be the Swiss challenge. We are now coming up with the terms of reference so I will be rushing that,” Tugade said.

“It is now February, but I still want that all completed by the first quarter. Can you blame me? You should even be happy, since I am making it hard for myself to find an immediate solution to the situation we are now at,” he said.

“It would be easy for me to say that I am holding the Swiss challenge on the third quarter, but I don’t want that. What I prefer is the first quarter. That is how I do things,” according to Tugade.

“There is an offer for Sangley (in Cavite) for a new airport, while there is an offer. We want Sangley in top shape so we are fixing that. We are fixing the runway, including the asphalt overlay,” he said. “Sangley will be developed for general aviation so that it can complement the NAIA. So, we are also putting up new airports in Naga.”

Despite the agency’s numerous projects that have been successfully implemented, he said the DoTr is still in need of support from the people to fulfill the agency’s goals.

“We want to appeal for patience and understanding,” Tugade said.

The Philippines had earned the notoriety of being one of the countries with the worst traffic problem and the witnesses to it are commuters who have to endure difficult travel daily to reach their destinations.

“Hopefully, you can provide us your trust. Offer us your prayers. Don’t provide us with a mountain of doubts or criticisms,” he said.

Under his leadership, the DoTr has been able to implement strategic projects to solve the public’s biggest concerns.

In just two-and-a-half years of the Duterte administration, Tugade took pride in the implementation of 160 projects in the maritime sector, including new ports and terminals and creation of first-class terminals.

Tugade said lighthouses are being refurbished since he considers these as navigational tools and which were “overlooked” in the past. During his incumbency, he cited that he will bring lighthouses to life again.

The NAIA, which used to be tagged as one of the world’s “worst airport,” now proudly sports a one-star grade.

Tugade said the DoTr also added 110 more radars for navigation. Asked if it is just reasonable for the public to expect NAIA to get a grade of four or five-star, he added, “It is reasonable expectation. It is valid.”