The administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is on track to transform the country into an international and regional aviation hub, Malacañang said on Saturday.
Citing the Department of Transportation's report, the Office of the Press Secretary said the new administration is pursuing the implementation of Phase 1 of the New Manila International Airport project in Bulacan.
The new airport is targeted to be operational by 2027, according to the DoTr.
The department said it is collaborating with the Department of Public Works and Highways, private partners, and concessionaire to manage concerns about the flood mitigation plan for the Bulacan airport project.
Moreover, the DoTr facilitated the launching of the Baguio-Cebu-Baguio commercial operations of the Philippine Airlines starting 16 December.
"With regard to public-private partnerships, aside from the Bulacan airport project, the DOTr has also been working on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Development Project," the OPS said.
"The agency engaged the Asian Development Bank-Office of Public-Private Partnerships for the provision of transaction advisory services and the creation of an inter-agency technical working group from the DoTr, Department of Finance, and the Public-Private Partnership Center to expedite processing," it added.
The Transportation Department also conducted advanced site acquisition for airports in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Marinduque, Kalibo, and Zamboanga.
"Aside from focusing on the aviation sector, DoTr cited in its report the improvement in the Philippine railway system such as signaling upgrades in the Light Railway Transit (LRT)-1 and the light railway vehicles overhaul in the Mass Railway Transit (MRT)-3," the OPS said.
The Philippine National Railways also opened an additional route from Calamba, Laguna to Lucena City in Quezon province under the North-South Commuter Rail Project.
"This is in addition to the Metro Manila Subway project, which commenced construction on the first section following a groundbreaking ceremony in Pasig City on 3 October led by President Marcos," it said.
The Libreng Sakay program benefited 1.6 million students and 52 million overall EDSA Busway ridership from July to December 2022.
The DoTr spearheaded the conduct of road repairs and installation of solar studs along the EDSA Busway, as well as bus timers in several bus stations.
