In between an important, symbolic landing at the runway of the Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay, and its inspection, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade was able to participate virtually in the Megaworld International Philippine Property Expo 2021 today, 30-July-2021, to give a bird’s eye view of the revolutionary transport infrastructure programs, projects, and initiatives rolling out in the country, and its significance in real estate development,
Underscoring how the DOTr has been undertaking transformation of the Transportation system to make the lives of every Filipino comfortable and convenient, Secretary Tugade highlighted the completed and ongoing projects under the four (4) transport sectors, namely Aviation and Airports; Railways; Road Transport, and Maritime.
“Considering what is being done in the transportation sector, the Transportation Department can be a partner, an instrument, and a tool in revolutionizing the future of the real estate,” Secretary Tugade remarked.
In the aviation and airports sector, the transportation chief announced that the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has already completed 214 AIRPORT PROJECTS across the archipelago, with 100 more well underway.
Amongst the completed airport projects Secretary Tugade highlighted were the Clark International Airport’s new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), Bohol – Panglao International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Dumaguete Airport, Calbayog Airport, as well as the Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM), and a lot more.
Secretary Tugade further mentioned several airport projects that are targeted to be inaugurated before the President’s term ends, such as the Bicol International Airport, Butuan Airport, Siquijor Airport, Catarman Airport Rehabilitation Project, General Santos International Airport, among others.
For the railways sector, Secretary Tugade provided updates on the developments of several rail infrastructure projects, such as the MRT-3 Rehabilitation, Common Station, Metro Manila Subway, and MRT-7, among others. He also highlighted the recently-completed LRT-2 East Extension Project.
For the road transport and infrastructure, Secretary Tugade underlined three (3) vital projects. These are the establishment of Bike Lane Network in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, the EDSA Busway, and Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
For the Maritime sector, Secretary Arthur Tugade announced that the DOTr and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) have already completed 451 SEAPORT PROJECTS, and DOTR is currently working on 101 more seaport projects to be completed.
Aside from the Transport infrastructure projects, Secretary Arthur Tugade underscored how the DOTr continues to champion its culture, values, and ways of doing things, that made the agency’s processes and system efficient, effective, seamless, and transparent.
“Apart from our accomplished programs and projects, what we are most proud of are the cultures and values that we were able to cultivate and nurture in the DOTr, especially the value of punctuality, transparency, and our uncompromising culture against corruption and red tape,” Secretary Tugade said.
Secretary Tugade likewise presented the agency’s shift towards digitization as a means for a swifter delivery of processes, as well as ensure the safety of its employees and clients amid the pandemic, through limiting human intervention.
In his closing remarks, Secretary Tugade sounded the clarion call to Megaworld to continually partner with the DOTr. “Partner with us [Megaworld]. Makipagkapit-bisig kayo sa amin, nang sa ganon, sama-sama tayong gawin ang buhay ng Pilipino comfortable and convenient,” Secretary Tugade concluded.
With the theme, “Revolutionizing the Future of Real Estate,” the pioneering virtual event aims to exhibit the real estate investment opportunities in the country, and provide a platform to learn from the expertise and experiences of prominent leaders from the public and private sector, in a bid to shape the future of the Philippines’ real estate market.
On a personal note, Secretary Tugade’s participation in this virtual conference is considered extraordinary as he attended this in between his landing and inspection of the BIA project. It is extraordinary that he made it possible to be able to deliver his promise to Bicolanos to land at the runway of BIA by end-July, and at the same time ensure his attendance in this virtual expo, to show how he values and honors his commitment.