Travel and Tourism

Government need to catch up in securing the right-of-way (ROW) for big-ticket railways, with nearly 49,000 informal settler families (ISFs) still waiting to be relocated. As of November 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) resettled only 1,756 of the 50,633 ISFs that live within the alignment of priority railways, based on a report submitted to the House of Representatives. These …

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is no longer setting a timeline on when the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) will be completed until such time that challenges on right of way (ROW) are sorted out. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon received his first briefing with project managers of the subway, and was unsatisfied with the answers given to him regarding progress. …

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Regional Office IX (MRO 9) led by OIC-director Farida Cunanan successfully held the second leg of its Maritime Safety Culture Awareness Campaign Caravan in Zamboanga City on 25 February 2025. Key highlight of the event was the formal signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between MRO 9 and the Zamboanga City government to enhance …

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that its member states have expressed willingness to continue exploring common ground in negotiations for new binding measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from international shipping. The IMO in London said international efforts to curb GHG emissions from shipping took a step forward as the IMO’s Intersessional Working Group (IWG) on Reduction of …

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon issued a Department Order creating a Flagship Project Management Office (FPMO) following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track big-ticket transportation projects to alleviate commuter woes. The Chief Executive had instructed Sec. Dizon to speed up priority transport system infrastructure projects for physical connectivity and shorter travel time. Under Department Order 2025-002, the DOTr-FPMO …

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon vowed to fast-track big-ticket transport projects under the Build Better More (BBM) infrastructure program of the Marcos administration to ensure efficiency of the country’s transport systems and alleviate hardships of the commuting public. “Ang objective natin simple lang: pabilisin, at ayusin para maging safe ang ating transport systems. Hindi pwede ang pwede na,” Sec. Dizon said …

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines could increase by 7 percent this year, hitting an annual purchase volume of 20,000 units for the first time, according to industry expectations. Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) President Rommel Gutierrez said he expects that 4 percent of the estimated 500,000 vehicle purchases this year will be EVs. …

The modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was hailed as “Transport Deal of the Year” during the Project Finance International’s (PFI) annual awards in London, United Kingdom (UK). Accepting the award on behalf of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) was Secretary Jaime J. Bautista. Sec. Bautista boasted that the NAIA modernization deal was one of the fastest and …

The Philippines’ commitment to global road safety took center stage when it joined other countries in the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Morocco last February 18-20, 2025. Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Active Transport, EDSA Busway, and Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) are integral programs promoting road safety. The transport …

Efforts to modernize the country’s maritime sector are currently in progress as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will construct at least 200 social and farm-to-market port projects to promote inclusive and sustainable growth in far-flung areas. “Under the Build, Better, More Program of the Marcos Jr. Administration, the DOTr-Maritime Sector is working on the completion of approximately 200 social port …