Department of Transportation
Sec. Arthur Tugade
Five years after we took the helm of the Department of Transportation, we can say that we have successfully initiated a TRANSFORMATION.
And this is not just a transformation of the transport infrastructure landscape. This is about the transformation in the way we do things—our culture.
We changed the game.
Since 2016, the DOTr has completed 214 airport projects, while 100 more are ongoing. These projects include the Clark International Airport’s new Terminal Building, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Sangley, Kalibo, Dumaguete, Ormoc, Tuguegarao, Camiguin, Tacloban, General Santos, Catanduanes, Zamboanga, Calbayog, the CNS/ATM, Camiguin, among others.
In the maritime sector, 451 seaport projects have been realized while 101 more are being fast-tracked. Completed projects include the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the country’s biggest port PTB to date; the Currimao Port in Ilocos Norte; Victoria Port in Laguna; the ports of Tagbilaran, Tubigon, and Maribojoc in Bohol; the ports of Borac, San Fernando, and Bataraza in Palawan; the ports of Dumaguete, Limasawa and Ormoc; and the Ports of General Santos, Babak in Davao Del Norte, Cantillan in Surigao in Mindanao, and many more.
We have also initiated the modernization of our Philippine Coast Guard, in terms of assets and personnel, as well as the digitization of our port systems through the Philippine Ports Authority.
In the road sector, our feats include the completion of nearly 500 kilometers of bike lane networks in Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, and Metro Manila; the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, and the EDSA Busway. Further, we initiated the country’s first-ever Service Contracting Program, which pays drivers on a per kilometer run and grants performance-based incentives.
In the railways sector, we have completed the LRT-2 East Extension, while working on the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, Common Station, Metro Manila Subway, MRT-7, MRT-3 Rehabilitation, North-South Commuter Railway (Calamba to Clark), PNR Bicol, and the Mindanao Railway.
But more than the accomplished programs, tangible assets, infrastructure, and initiatives, we are most proud of the culture of accountability, transparency, and commitment that we were able to cultivate and nurture among our employees.
The collective sense of urgency, purpose, and honesty inculcated have reinvigorated our people to perform with diligence and responsibility. I consider an execution of the shared values, like the value of punctuality, as a strong foundation for our success. Equally important is our uncompromising drive against corruption and red tape.
In our relentless drive towards attaining this culture of excellence, we can face the nation and declare that we have paved the way to the fulfillment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s ultimate marching order – to give the Filipino people a comfortable life. (DOTr) – jlo
