Travel and Tourism

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently revealed that 28 Japanese firms have shown interest in bidding for the contract to operate and maintain the North-South Commuter Railway System. During the last leg of the government’s market sounding activity in Japan, DOTr Undersecretary for railways Timothy John Batan said the project was warmly received by several firms, including big names in …

GMR Group of India expressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr its “firm commitment” to help develop the Sangley Aerocity and the Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) in Cavite and explore investment opportunities in Laoag, Siargao and Bohol regional gateways. This development “signals a strong partnership aimed at decongesting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and bolstering regional connectivity,” sad the …

Coastal waters off the Siquijor municipality of Enrique Villanueva was recently designated as the Bitaug Marine Protected Area (MPA). Covering 149.46 hectares of coastal waters, the Bitaug MPA is the largest in Siquijor, accounting for nearly a third of the island province’s total MPA coverage. The MPA designation has been in the process since 2007, now achieved after participatory planning …

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that personalized student Beep cards with an automatic 50% discount would become available starting Sept. 15, 2025, for the benefit of thousands of commuting students. According to a DOTr Facebook post, “This is in response to the directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make student travel faster and more affordable.” To avail of …

The Department of Tourism (DoT) recently unveiled Philippine Golf Experience (GolfEx) – a golf tourism program – at the Mimosa Plus Golf Course in Clark, Pampanga, to promote the country as a premier golfing destination. DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said the initiative aims to integrate the sport into the national tourism strategy. Frasco said, “We have always known that the …

Aboitiz Construction – the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group – recently completed building the new berth of the DICT Bulk Terminal Inc. (DBTI) in Davao del Norte, expanding the facility’s bulk cargo handling capacity. “Our continuing partnership with DICT—spanning projects since 2017—has allowed us to showcase our engineering and construction expertise in delivering quality infrastructure that supports the region’s …

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) revealed plans to construct two railway lines in the Visayas region. DOTr is now accepting bids for consultancy contracts – with a value of ₱157.20 million – for the feasibility studies of the Samar-Leyte Railway and the Panay Railway. The projects form part of the government’s expansion of the country’s transport infrastructure. DOTr said the …

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is targeting to open an improved Terminal 4 by middle of 2026, signaling another round of terminal reassignments among airlines using the country’s main gateway. NAIA regulator Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is again reviewing the new terminal assignments to be implemented next year. New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), the private operator of NAIA, …

Despite an increase in terminal fees, service charges at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) remain lowest in Southeast Asia, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). Starting Sept. 14, departing international passengers at NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 will pay P950 (from P550), while domestic travelers will pay P390 (from P200). The fee adjustments, to be implemented by …

The budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) more than doubled in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), receiving the biggest jump in allocation, according to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman DOTr will get a budget of P196.62 billion for next year, which is P110 billion more than this year’s budget of P87 billion, based on the 2026 NEP that was …