By Arabella Asis
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed the agency is eyeing to finish the maintenance of 18 airports before the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
During the Malacañang Press Briefing on Tuesday, April 11, Bautista laid down plans for aviation, road sector, and maritime projects.
“We also reported ports that will be completed before June, around 20 of these. And of course, road sector projects, which will include the construction of the mega bike lanes, and there are more projects for example in the rail sector,” Bautista said.
Bautista also relayed to the President the finalization of different contract packages for the North-South Commuter Railway, as well as contract packages for the Metro Manila Subway.
The subway will operate on 17 stations from Valenzuela to Pasay with 519,000 passengers daily.
In addition, Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-7 is expected to be completed by June 2025 while the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 extension from Baclaran to Sucat is set to finish by 2024.
Marcos vowed consistent implementation of big-ticket infrastructure projects while underscoring their importance to economic development and job generation. – gb
