This, as the administration said that pubkic transportation became the main option for many members of the public amid the rise in oil prices.
In his penultimate State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 27, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said the forthcoming opening of two of the big-ticket transportation projects of the government.
These are the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) and the first portion of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).
Starting 2027, the 12 stations of the MRT-7 will begin serving passengers and become the country’s first new MRT line in nearly three decades.
Initially running from North Avenue to Sacred Heart in Quezon City, the line is planned to eventually reach San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and ferry almost one million passengers daily.
In addition, the Valenzuela-Malolos segment of the NSCR will begin operations in 2027, with the Department of Transportation saying tbat the Malolos-Clark route will be completed before the end of his term in 2028.
The President credited the recently enacted Accelerated and Reformed Right of Way (ARROW) Act for helping resolve right-of-way issues more quickly.
“Thanks to the recently enacted Accelerated and Reformed Right of Way Act, right of way issues are now more quickly resolved, removing the biggest chokepoint in our mass transit development program,” he said.
Aside from that, the Chief Executive noted that the first phase of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is already operational, while the Ilocos Norte BRT is scheduled to be inaugurated next year.
According to the President, with the increase in fuel prices, many Filipinos turned to public transportation. Hence, it is working to build new ones and improve already existing sites or services.
“Kaya pinagtutuunan ng mabuti ng Administrasyon ang ating mga tren, mga busways, transport hubs at integrated terminals, at ang pagpapaganda at pagpapalawak ng mga paliparan at pantalan sa buong bansa,” he said.
“Ito ay upang mas malawak at malayo ang naaabot, tumaas ang kapasidad, at maging moderno at mas maginhawa ang serbisyo,” the President added.
