The Department of Transportation (DOTr) must pick up where it left off in 2024 and continue focusing on the task at hand as the agency pushes for a more connected Philippine archipelago, Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said during the simple 126th anniversary celebration of DOTr. Sec. Bautista urged agency officials and personnel to “buckle down and get to work” to …

The Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) ferry system project’s feasibility study is expected to be completed by mid-2025. “Nakikita po natin na matatapos ang feasibility study nito by the first half of this year. Inaasahan natin na by the middle of 2025 makakakuha na tayo ng approval para sa proyektong ito,” said Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy …

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) plans to build an underground rail line in Cebu Province to help alleviate traffic congestion in the area. According to Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Undersecretary Timothy John Batan, discussions with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the provincial government for the construction of a Cebu Subway started in 2024. The project was conceived …

The Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation’s (SAICT) Special Operation Group (SOG), with operatives from the Philippine Coast Guard and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), confronted the persistent issue of “colorum” or unauthorized public transport vehicles in the Tabang area of Guiguinto, Bulacan. On the morning of January 22, 2025, SAICT’s Special Operation Group (SOG) swooped down …

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) broke ground for a new bridge to be constructed by the Coast Guard Base Taguig (CGBT). According to the CGBT Commander, Captain Victorino Ronaldo Acosta IV, the bridge will strengthen operational capabilities of the base by improving access to key areas, facilitate smoother mobility for personnel and vehicles, increase safety by addressing outdated infrastructure, and …

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) assured the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of its required resources and infrastructure as well as policy measures to further improve its maritime capability and capacity in performing its mandate. “We aim to provide the PCG with the resources, infrastructure, and policy backing it needs to fulfill its mission. Let us continue to work hand in …

New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), private operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), opened the main arrival curbside at Terminal 1 to all private vehicles, making the once-restricted area accessible to all passengers—not just VIPs. The change provides a more inclusive and convenient experience for arriving travelers and their loved ones, as part of a broader effort to improve traffic …

The Philippines has officially lost the 3rd spot in the global banana export market to Colombia in 2024, which shipped out 29,000 metric tons more than the Philippines. Colombia exported 2.31 million metric tons to the world while the Philippines ssent only 2.28 MMT, said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Ecuador remained the world’s top exporter of bananas, with …

Last January 10, the Department of Agriculture reported a thin supply of red onions, causing spikes in its local retail prices, ranging from P100 to P180 per kg in Manila markets, or an increase from P70 to P150/kg a month ago. DA Undersecretary for high value crops  Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said this could be due to factors like high demand, …

By Rose de la Cruz With  a record importation of 4.78 million metric tons of rice last year, it would not be surprising that P34 -billion tariff was collected from the  legitimate arrivals of the grains.  The Bureau of Customs said total rice tariff collected in 2024 rose by 13.11 percent year-on-year to P34 billion from just P30 billion in …