MANILA, Philippines — As President Marcos revamps his Cabinet, commuter and mobility groups said now is the best time for the infrastructure team to reassess what projects can be completed by 2028.
Infrawatch PH convenor and returning lawmaker Terry Ridon said the government needs to revisit its priority infrastructure, especially as the President is nearing the midway of his term.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is facing years of delay in finishing the P873.6-billion North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the P488.5-billion Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) on right of way (ROW) issues.
The Malolos-Clark segment of the NSCR was supposed to be operational by 2027, but is now expected only by 2028. The MMSP was set for completion by 2029, but was moved to 2032 on slow progress in certain areas.
“The President should determine which flagship infrastructure projects can actually be delivered and completed within his term. This should be the main focus if ensuring legacy is a major driver for the Cabinet revamp,” Ridon told The STAR.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon was appointed by Marcos in February to resolve the issues surrounding transport projects, particularly the big-ticket railways.
Immediately, Dizon created a specialized office tasked to develop policies that would accelerate the progress of infrastructure priorities, including the NSCR and MMSP.
In April, the DOTr secured the necessary permits to proceed with its excavation in White Plains, Quezon City, one of the gated villages that the MMSP would cross.
Dizon was one of the first Cabinet members who filed his resignation in compliance with the President’s order. He said he trusts his principal’s move to reorganize the Cabinet to ensure quicker solutions for the country’s most pressing needs.
Move As One Coalition co-convenor Robert Siy said his group wants Dizon reinstated as DOTr chief. The coalition, made up of commuter and mobility advocates, was consulted multiple times by Dizon for policy recommendations on transport programs and projects.
“I and colleagues from the Move As One Coalition have been supportive of Secretary Dizon and his team at the DOTr because of their prioritization of public transport and vulnerable road users who are in the vast majority,” Siy told The STAR.
“There needs to be a conscious reorientation and transformation of services and infrastructure to favor these groups in the population, so that we can have more livable communities,” he added.
However, Siy scored Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan for allegedly prioritizing projects that favor only those with private vehicles, leaving pedestrians and cyclists behind.
“Because the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) clings to an approach which serves largely private motor vehicle owners, the result is that all of the road users without cars or motorcycles are disadvantaged. We have numerous roads without proper sidewalks,” Siy said.
He said whoever the next DPWH chief would be, they should consider building projects that cater to the mobility needs of all stakeholders. This means roads with pedestrian walkways, infrastructure that gives way to persons with disabilities, among others.
Ridon said the next set of Cabinet members, particularly those in the infrastructure cluster, have to deliver projects with limited resources and timeframes.
“As we go into the midterm, the President should be able to rely on a Cabinet that can deliver the actual results for the remainder of his term,” Ridon said.
The President ordered an overhaul in his Cabinet following the results of the midterm elections where only six of his endorsed candidates won as senators.
