The Department of Transportation's (DOTr) big-ticket projects aim to ensure efficient commuter mobility and increased inter-island connectivity, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said on Thursday.

At the Metro Pacific Tollways Transport Conference, Sec. Bautista stated that once these major transport projects are completed, they are “bound to stir up the status quo” in the transport sector.

“The overarching goal of these projects is to improve mobility and connectivity because we find the status quo in the transport sector unacceptable,” Sec. Bautista said during the conference, which was also attended by Senator Raffy Tulfo.

The transportation chief emphasized that the Philippines needs to catch up in terms of infrastructure to accelerate the country’s economic growth, which will translate into inclusive progress.

“We need to catch up in infrastructure development to be able to accelerate economic progress. Our government firmly believes an efficient transport system would lead to inclusive economic growth,” he said.

Big-ticket airport projects include the modernization of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Laguindingan Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, as well as airports in Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, and Iloilo.

In the railways sector, Sec. Bautista cited projects such as the North-South Commuter Railway, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, Metro Manila Subway, MRT-7, MRT-4, and Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway.

Sec. Bautista added that expressways are also being built or expanded to link the regions with Metro Manila and other urban centers.

The DOTr is also studying the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake River Ferry (MAPALLA)—a high-capacity, low-carbon ferry system that will link Manila Bay and Laguna Lake through the Pasig River.

Another road project is the upcoming Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, which will stretch from Taguig through Pasig, Marikina, and San Mateo along the C6 highway in the eastern section of the metropolis.