The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) remains relentless in its pursuit to elevate the country’s road sector, and uphold to global standards the different transport systems for 2025.
Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, the Department under Secretary Jaime J. Bautista continuously implements road transport infrastructure projects across the nation.
Active Transport Project
To promote sustainable mobility and alleviate traffic congestion, the Active Transport Program is focused on people-oriented development by prioritizing walking, biking, non-motorized and light electric vehicles within the country’s transport network.
DOTr already established almost 900 kilometers of bike lanes in 40 cities in NCR, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Western, Eastern, and Central Visayas, and Davao Region. There are also a total of 228 completed racks of end-of-trip facilities for cyclists across Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao. This project aims to establish 2,400 kilometers of bike lanes nationwide by 2028.
Public Transport Modernization Program
The Public Transport Modernization Program has recorded 86% of franchise consolidation as of December 2024. After the conclusion of the consolidation, the current focus of the program is the LGUs’ compliance and completion of their Local Public Transport Route Plans (LPTRPs), which will identify sustainable and profitable routes within the local government units.
To date, 1,170 LGUs out of 1,591 LGUs (73.5%) have submitted their Local Public Transport Route Plan, 222 of which (19% of the total submitted) have already been approved. Further, 80 LGUs already have issued memorandum circulars from the LTFRB opening the LPTRP routes for application of CPCs.
Davao Public Transport Modernization Program
The DPTMP will cover 672-kilometer route network, serving 29 interconnected routes with five depots. The project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is currently in continuous acquisition of right-of-way and procurement of almost 1,000 buses with 300 electric buses.
The program is expected to accommodate 700,000 to 1-million ridership daily and is expected to start the operations by the end of 2026.
Cebu Bus Rapid Transit
The 35-kilometers Cebu BRT have 22 stations that will help connect key parts of Cebu City with seamless and fast transportation.
Last December 2024, Cebu BRT Public-Private partnership has been awarded to Megawide costing over P28-B. Once completed, the project can accommodate 100,000 to 300,000 daily passengers. The project is set to start its operations in 2027.