Bataan Christian College Inc.

Panilao, Pilar, Bataan

Senior High School Department

Infrastructure Development in the Philippines: Transportation System

In terms of infrastructure, the Philippines is one of Southeast Asia's and Asia's most
developed nations, particularly when it comes to mass transportation in the early 1900s, which
aided Filipinos' quality of life. The city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is the hub of its
economic, political, social, and cultural life. It is also referred to as the "Pearl of the Orient."
However, from recent years up until the current time, the government has not made use of job
opportunities across the country, forcing people to move to Manila in search of employment in
order to provide a good life for their families. Due to the large number of cars involved, this
issue results in heavy traffic throughout Manila. In addition, due to the high number of
passengers, trains, buses, taxis, jeepneys, and even airports become congested. The government
launched a public-private partnership and build-build-build program to have rapid progress to
create new infrastructural transportation systems outside and inside the capital city, changing the
country's outdated mass transportation system and renovating some in Metro Manila. The
government's proposed solution to the mass transit problem is a good one because expanding and
improving mass transit throughout the entire Philippines, not just in Metro Manila, will help the
economy of the nation and meet people's needs more quickly. It will also encourage tourism and
increase job opportunities outside the country's capital city.
One of the cornerstones of the development of the Philippines' transportation systems is
the public-private partnership and the build-build-build program. The Philippines and its citizens
will gain from this program because it will increase job opportunities, which will lead to a high
employment rate and lower the country's unemployment rate. Since many transportation systems
will be built outside of Manila, it will also ease congestion in the area surrounding the country's
capital. It will also develop new transportation infrastructure designs that could make the
Philippines well-known. The Philippines' economy will grow as a result of the supply chain and
quick delivery of high-quality services to all of its cities and provinces. Since Manila has become
overpopulated and the transportation system cannot accommodate every single person in the city,
I can see that many new transportation hubs are now being built to give people a better
experience in the mode of transportation. As a result, all the long lines, long hours, and the hustle
that people wait every single day just to go wait for transportation to go to work will be
improved and this is because of the programs that are being implemented up until this point.
Even the remote and nearby provinces, which are located outside the capital city, have an
antiquated transportation system because they continue to rely on vintage jeepneys, tricycles, and
mini-busses. In addition, these provinces lack trains, modernized airports, seaports, and other
transportation hubs, which slows down economic growth in these areas as a result of people's
hurried daily commutes. However, as a result of this program, even the provinces are now
building and renovating their transportation infrastructure to reduce the number of people who
travel to Manila in search of employment, to quickly identify the needs of the masses, to provide
better employment opportunities outside the capital city, and to provide easy access to the
destinations they desire, particularly tourism.
Furthermore, the government will oversee and carry out two initiatives and programs to
show how well the Philippines' mass transportation system will change. The objectives of this
program are the improvement of the mass transit system, to improve people's commute/travel
experiences, to help reduce traffic in Manila and other areas, and facilitate the movement of
goods and services across the borders of provinces. According to GOVPH (2018) the private-

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partnership program, formerly known as the BOT Law and renamed as the private-partnership
program in 2013, was put into effect in 2010. These are contracts that the government has made
with the private sector. A program allows the private sector to construct, run, and maintain public
infrastructure facilities and offer services that are typically provided by the government. Some of
the infrastructure development they are part of improving the transportation system that includes
railways, airports, ports, transport systems, terminal facilities, highways and roads that link to the
transportation hubs, and even other infrastructure development (GOVPH, 2017). (ADB, 2018)
stated that the program aids in advising provinces, cities, and small towns throughout the
archipelago on how to access private capital to upgrade and modernize the Philippines'
deteriorating infrastructure, particularly its transportation system. This program encourages the
private sector to grow throughout the nation in order to give Filipinos better access to
transportation hubs and to reduce the number of people who have to travel great distances. The
program is significant in that it offers a means of increasing funding for public infrastructure and
serves as a tool for bettering infrastructure planning, execution, operation, and maintenance.
In addition, as stated by SCAD (2021), the build build build program was established to
include building and develop new infrastructure projects in transportation, education, and other
infrastructure but also to improve mobility and connectivity. This program, which is a part of the
Philippines' infrastructure development and is also known as the "Golden Age of Infrastructure,"
was put in place to address the country's enormous infrastructure backlog and to foster economic
growth by increasing the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. As part of the initiative
program, 212 airport projects, 446 seaport projects, several new vital bus and jeepney hubs, and
the main terminal have been completed. These projects benefit the Philippines' transportation
system and also aid in reducing traffic in the Metro. The Build Build Build program also resulted
in the completion of 10,376 flood mitigation structures, 26,494 kilometers of road, and 5,555
bridges that significantly improve transportation and travel for Filipinos (Philippines News
Agency, 2021). (Villar, 2021) added that the program's goals are to enhance the nation, the
quality of life for Filipinos, and major cities through the distribution of economic activities and
the creation of jobs for millions of Filipinos. Additionally, they want the country's visitors and
residents to have a better experience by having a transportation system that meets international
standards. This program also gave the Filipino people 6.5 million jobs and launched a vital
transportation system to speed up services, cut down on wait times, and provide comfortable
transportation.
Moreover, modernizing public transportation, particularly jeepneys, buses, boats, and
planes, is one of the government's priorities under the two initiatives program for the
development of transportation in the Philippines. (Mariano, 2022) claimed that cities with a high
car ownership rate and outdated, subpar public transportation systems posed serious threats to the
nation's overall social and economic development. As of right now, the country has lost millions
of dollars as a result of missed opportunities, extra fuel use, and medical expenses brought on by
our transportation system. They recommend that the government switch to eco-friendly jeepneys,
and a new bus model, renovate the ports and airports, and alter the nation's taxi system. The
Department of Transportation is reviving the campaign to modernize public utility vehicles in
order to replace outdated jeepneys, buses, and other transport hubs, which are among the primary
modes of transportation for Filipinos, with new ones outfitted with a cashless payment system
and GPS tracking device. Additionally, as part of the reform, more environmentally friendly
fuels would be used to power transportation utility vehicles. Since thousands of new utility
vehicles have already been put to use across the country to help Filipinos have better commutes
in their daily lives, improvement in the transport system can already be seen in Metro Manila and
even other provinces in the Philippines to have all people an equal and balanced transport
system. (Luna, 2022).
Additionally, numerous infrastructure projects were developed and are currently being
built as part of the improvement and modernization of the Philippine transportation system at the
time the public-private program was established in the Philippines. (Preston, 2022) claimed that
a new rail system needs to be built within Metro Manila since MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 are
insufficient to manage the millions of Filipinos who work there. In order to improve the
Philippines' transportation system and accommodate millions of Filipinos, the Metro Manila

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Subway project is now well underway due to support from the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The railway, which will run 33
kilometers (km) between Valenzuela City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and
cost 448.47 billion pesos, will have 17 stations in total. By the year 2028, eight-car trains
carrying up to 2242 passengers each are anticipated to be fully operational. When fully
operational, it will have a daily passenger capacity of up to 519,000 Filipinos. This project will
improve the persistent traffic issue and will revolutionize safe and practical travel across the
Philippines. Along with improving travel and reducing traffic, infrastructure also creates
business opportunities (Preston, 2022). As part of the PPP program, work is also being done on
Metro Rail Transit 7, also known as the MRT-7, which is expected to be fully operational by
2024–2025. The Department of Transportation, along with Ramon Ang, the owner of the San
Miguel Corporation, provided funding for this project. North Avenue in Quezon City will be
connected to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan by a 22-kilometer rail line that will cost 62.7 billion
pesos. It has a daily capacity of up to 350,000 passengers, which will lessen traffic on EDSA.
Once finished, the 14-station rail system will reduce the current two- to three-hour journey by the
use of buses and jeepneys from North Avenue to San Jose del Monte to just only 35 minutes
(Fernandez, 2022).
Correspondingly, Railway Technology (2022) stated that the North-South Commuter
Railway project is one of the significant railway lines that will be built. The goal of the
Philippine government is to provide vital connectivity through a top-notch passenger rail service
in order to spur economic and urban growth in the most populous areas of the islands. The Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) the Philippine National Railway (PNR), and the
Department of transportation are the lead agencies in charge of implementing the NSCR project,
which paid 777.55 billion pesos for this project, and are funding it. It will connect central
Manila and Calamba city in the capital's south with the growth centers of Clark and New Clark
city in the north. This will span 147 kilometers and have 19 stations between the northern and
southern Philippines. As part of the aviation transport system, the government is focusing on
building airports. The New Manila International Airport, also known as the Bulacan International
Airport, is one of the major infrastructure projects that the government is currently working on.
The San Miguel Corporation, led by CEO Ramon Ang, will finance and manage the project. The
Department of Transportation will also provide assistance (DOTr). Operation at the new gateway
is expected to begin in 2027 at a cost of 735 billion pesos. The New Manila International Airport
is anticipated to assist in decongesting the NAIA and allow the airports in Metro Manila and
nearby provinces to meet forecast travel demands. The airport has a design capacity of up to 100
million passengers annually and plans for four parallel runways. This project will expand
employment opportunities and increase Philippine tourism (Philippines News Agency, 2022).
Besides that, other provinces in the Philippines are developing their transportation hubs,
with Clark International Airport Terminal 2 being one of them. The Philippines' transportation
system is also being developed outside of Metro Manila, the country's capital. According to Lazy
Pinoy Traveler (2022), the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp.
provided funding for the New Clark International Airport terminal 2 at a cost of 12.5 billion
pesos. This project created many job opportunities while decongesting Metro Manila,
particularly the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The airport is positioned to be a premier
Asian gateway for tourism and business. The airport's 4 levels and 18 aero bridges can
accommodate 8 million passengers annually. This will mark a significant moment in Philippine
aviation history and have a significant impact on the economic climate and social development in
Central Luzon. It will increase levels of logistics capacity, technology, and total service
offerings. The Mactan-Cebu International Terminal 2 is also one of the best architectural designs
and services in the infrastructure development of the Philippines under the transportation system.
According to The Poor Traveler (2022), the GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation
constructed and provided funding for the Mactan-Cebu International Terminal 2 at a cost of 18.2
billion pesos. When it fully began operating commercially in 2018, it welcomed guests from all
over the world. The new terminal promises to give travelers a world-class airport experience,
making traveling to and from Cebu even more special. It does this with its eye-catching design
and cutting-edge handling and security systems. Domestic and international flights are run out of

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the airport. Along with helping the tourism industry, this project also provided Cebuanos with
employment opportunities.
Moreover, the transportation hub also for buses was improved wherein two integrated
terminals were built which are the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange and the Ayala Bus
Terminal. According to Pinas Natin (2019), the opening of the nation's first-of-its-kind
intermodal land port will make commuting more comfortable for people who ride and also want
to help improve the nation's transportation system and hub. Particularly for travelers from the
Southern Philippines who are traveling to Metro Manila, it provides a safer, more modern, and
more convenient terminal experience. They use buses, taxis, Uv Express, jeepneys, and other
types of transportation in this terminal. They also have point-to-point and soon transportation.
The EDSA Ayala Bus Terminal, which will serve southbound city buses, contemporary
jeepneys, PUVs, and some point-to-point buses, was also inaugurated by the One Ayala
company in late 2022. A daily capacity of 300,000 passengers is planned. The new station,
which is situated at the intersection of EDSA and Ayala Avenue, has three bays and can hold
nine buses at once. By April 2023, all three bays should be fully functional. City buses and point-
to-point buses will be provided by the new terminal to FTI, Alabang, and Sta. Rosa-Balibago as
well as Bian. The terminal will also be accessible to modern PUVs and jeepneys. This will also
aid in decongesting Metro Manila, accelerating travel times, the nation's economic development,
ensuring safety, and last but not least, increasing job opportunities inside the terminal (Yu,
2022).
Furthermore, the development of the transportation system in the Philippines is not just in
a positive way because there are people also who is not agreeing or support the program and
even the transportation hub that is being developed. (Rappler, 2016) said that during the
administration of former president Benigno Aquino II, a number of projects were announced in
the Philippines under the public-private partnership program. These projects, it is claimed, will
improve people's quality of life, economic growth, employment opportunities, and transportation
hubs, reduce corruption, and improve commuter experiences. But a lot of projects never got
finished, and all the promises were never kept. There was also no structural design. Numerous
senators, lawyers, mayors, governors, and even ordinary Filipino citizens asserted that this issue
would lead to the program's termination because of ongoing or unfinished projects. They
asserted that doing so would hurt the government's finances, the economy, and the nation's
infrastructure development (Rappler, 2016). (Ilas, 2019) during a Senate hearing, attorney and
senator Franklin Drilon stated that the build build build program, which was put in place by the
Duterte Administration, is a miserable failure because, according to a data release from the
National Economic and Development Authority, only 9 of the 75 flagship projects that have been
announced by the government, have been completed. In the hearing the senator and lawyer said
"Sad to say, the build build build program of this administration is a dismal failure... We have
only two and a half years left of this administration. I don’t think any substantial progress so far
as that program is concerned will be achieved.
Likewise, according to Sierva (2021) regarding the New Manila International Airport, the
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Bulacan stated that the airport city project is a part of the
government's Destruct-Destruct-Destruct scheme that primarily serves business interests and
conveniently omits real development opportunities for the people. Although it is gratifying to
imagine an aeropolis that would act as a gateway for tourism, a means of mass transportation,
and a way to attract investments, it is simple to ignore its underlying consequences, the majority
of which are seriously detrimental to the general populace. The people of Bulacan are also
concerned about what the construction of Metro Rail Transit line 7 will do to their agriculture.
Farmers are worried and want the government and private sector to stop destroying the area
where they obtain their food and means of subsistence because it is claimed that thousands of
hectares of agricultural land will be used for developing infrastructure and business districts,
which will have an impact on the farmers and may result in a loss of livelihood and employment
(Garcia, 2022).
Considering all of the facts, improvements to the country's transportation systems are
essential for the Philippines because they generate millions of jobs, raise living standards for
Filipinos, boost the economy, improve the nation's transportation hubs, provide better

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commuting conditions, and transportation that meets international standards. It is important that
government create public-private partnerships and build build-build programs, particularly when
lawmakers include stringent rules and regulations in them to stop problems that occurred decades
ago, particularly corruption and backlogs. We all have our own perspectives on the programs that
were created, but it's vital to keep in mind that they were made with the country's welfare and
everyone's future—especially the younger generations—in mind. Modernizing buses and
jeepneys, and building new railway sectors, airports, ports, and other transportation hubs give
people access to a better transportation system that speeds up production fastens the services,
decongests Metro Manila, and has a balance system all over the country. These will also offer a
solution to issues that the Philippines might experience in the decades to come. I also suggest
that the Philippines' infrastructure development will be successful if we focus on reducing
corruption, conducting feasibility studies, and identifying corporations or industrial businesses
that could help us establish essential projects.

References

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