Marcos tells new DOTr chief: Ease commuter woes | ABS-CBN
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Marcos tells new DOTr chief: Ease commuter woes
Marcos tells new DOTr chief: Ease commuter woes
Commuters struggle to catch a ride along Aurora Blvd. in Cubao, Quezon City as torrential rain brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine continues to inundate parts of Luzon on October 24, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File
Commuters struggle to catch a ride along Aurora Blvd. in Cubao, Quezon City as torrential rain brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine continues to inundate parts of Luzon on October 24, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA -- Newly installed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said Friday President Marcos Jr. to ease the plight of commuters.
MANILA -- Newly installed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said Friday President Marcos Jr. to ease the plight of commuters.
To do this, Dizon said Marcos instructed him to fast track major infrastructure projects such as the Metro Manila Subway Project and the North-South Commuter Railway.
To do this, Dizon said Marcos instructed him to fast track major infrastructure projects such as the Metro Manila Subway Project and the North-South Commuter Railway.
“Iyon ang unang-unang sinabi ng ating Pangulo, we have to fast-track all the ongoing projects of the past administration,” Dizon told a press briefing in Malacanang.
“Iyon ang unang-unang sinabi ng ating Pangulo, we have to fast-track all the ongoing projects of the past administration,” Dizon told a press briefing in Malacanang.
“Kailangan nating bilisan hindi lang dahil gusto nating matapos pero dahil alam natin na kapag binilisan natin iyan, kahit papaano mapapabilis na maibsan iyong hirap ng mga kababayan natin – that’s the purpose. That’s the purpose of the Department of Transportation, para gawin lahat iyan at iyon ang kabilin-bilinan ng ating mahal na Pangulo,” he said.
“Kailangan nating bilisan hindi lang dahil gusto nating matapos pero dahil alam natin na kapag binilisan natin iyan, kahit papaano mapapabilis na maibsan iyong hirap ng mga kababayan natin – that’s the purpose. That’s the purpose of the Department of Transportation, para gawin lahat iyan at iyon ang kabilin-bilinan ng ating mahal na Pangulo,” he said.
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"So that in five years, six years, ten years, fifteen years kahit papaano mababawas-bawasan na natin ‘tong hirap na dinaranas ng mga kababayan natin araw-araw," he added.
"So that in five years, six years, ten years, fifteen years kahit papaano mababawas-bawasan na natin ‘tong hirap na dinaranas ng mga kababayan natin araw-araw," he added.
Dizon, who served under the Duterte administration as Palace adviser on flagship projects, president and CEO of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), and COVID-19 testing czar, took his oath of office before Marcos Jr in Malacanang on Friday.
Dizon, who served under the Duterte administration as Palace adviser on flagship projects, president and CEO of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), and COVID-19 testing czar, took his oath of office before Marcos Jr in Malacanang on Friday.
The official said a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach was necessary to resolve right-of-way issues, which he said were holding back the completion of transportation infrastructure projects.
The official said a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach was necessary to resolve right-of-way issues, which he said were holding back the completion of transportation infrastructure projects.
“Ang solusyon ng right of way manggagaling sa local government units, sa ating mga mayor, sa ating mga governor, manggagaling iyan sa ating private sector kasi marami sa mga lupang kailangang gamitin ay nasa kamay ng pribadong sektor and we have to work together," Dizon said.
“Ang solusyon ng right of way manggagaling sa local government units, sa ating mga mayor, sa ating mga governor, manggagaling iyan sa ating private sector kasi marami sa mga lupang kailangang gamitin ay nasa kamay ng pribadong sektor and we have to work together," Dizon said.
While Dizon admitted that significantly resolving the country’s traffic problem would take decades of infrastructure development, the official said he was looking at the implementation of short and medium term solutions to ease commuters’ woes.
While Dizon admitted that significantly resolving the country’s traffic problem would take decades of infrastructure development, the official said he was looking at the implementation of short and medium term solutions to ease commuters’ woes.
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These include increasing the capacity of the MRT and LRT by deploying additional wagons, the construction of elevated EDSA Greenways for walking commuters, and the improvement of the Pasig River Ferry, he said.
These include increasing the capacity of the MRT and LRT by deploying additional wagons, the construction of elevated EDSA Greenways for walking commuters, and the improvement of the Pasig River Ferry, he said.
“But, the long-term solutions, the ultimate solution to traffic is really mass transit, high-capacity iyon ang pinakaimportanteng salita, high-capacity. Ibig sabihin ang high-capacity hindi ko kailangan mag-kotse, kasi ang kotse dalawa lang ang kasya doon o apat eh," Dizon said.
“But, the long-term solutions, the ultimate solution to traffic is really mass transit, high-capacity iyon ang pinakaimportanteng salita, high-capacity. Ibig sabihin ang high-capacity hindi ko kailangan mag-kotse, kasi ang kotse dalawa lang ang kasya doon o apat eh," Dizon said.
"High-capacity, ibig sabihin daan-daan ang kasya doon, kailangan train, kailangan natin dagdagan iyong mga MRT natin, kailangan ito, kailangan natin ng subway,” he said.
"High-capacity, ibig sabihin daan-daan ang kasya doon, kailangan train, kailangan natin dagdagan iyong mga MRT natin, kailangan ito, kailangan natin ng subway,” he said.
EXPANDING AGRICULTURAL PORTS
Dizon said Marcos directed him to increase agricultural ports to bring down food prices.
Dizon said Marcos directed him to increase agricultural ports to bring down food prices.
“One reason why the price of food is so high is because of connectivity, because of transport cost. So, iyon, pinagkabilin-bilinan niya sa akin iyon kanina lang na we have to focus on that," Dizon said.
“One reason why the price of food is so high is because of connectivity, because of transport cost. So, iyon, pinagkabilin-bilinan niya sa akin iyon kanina lang na we have to focus on that," Dizon said.
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"So, I’m going to make sure that our good GM in PPA, GM Jay Santiago, we are able to work with the Department of Agriculture and the other agencies to make sure we are able to establish these ports all over the country,” he said.
"So, I’m going to make sure that our good GM in PPA, GM Jay Santiago, we are able to work with the Department of Agriculture and the other agencies to make sure we are able to establish these ports all over the country,” he said.
He added that he wanted the transportation agency to prioritize the construction of ports for cruise ships to increase tourist arrivals in the country.
He added that he wanted the transportation agency to prioritize the construction of ports for cruise ships to increase tourist arrivals in the country.
“Sa mga turista, iyong mga cruise terminal, ang ganda-ganda ng mga isla natin. Pero, bakit ang mga cruise ship eh nagpupunta sa Thailand, sa Malaysia? Bakit sila ang pinipili, hindi tayo? Eh wala tayong infrastructure eh, wala tayong mga cruise terminal pero iyan, ginagawa na rin iyan ni GM Jay," he said.
“Sa mga turista, iyong mga cruise terminal, ang ganda-ganda ng mga isla natin. Pero, bakit ang mga cruise ship eh nagpupunta sa Thailand, sa Malaysia? Bakit sila ang pinipili, hindi tayo? Eh wala tayong infrastructure eh, wala tayong mga cruise terminal pero iyan, ginagawa na rin iyan ni GM Jay," he said.
EX-TRANSPORT OFFFICIALS
Meanwhile, Dizon said he planned to bring with him former transport officials to the DOTr “to hit the ground running.”
Meanwhile, Dizon said he planned to bring with him former transport officials to the DOTr “to hit the ground running.”
“There’s no room for—there’s no time to waste and there’s no room to learn the ropes, wala na tayong oras doon. So, we really need to bring in people who have the experience and who are professional,” he said.
“There’s no room for—there’s no time to waste and there’s no room to learn the ropes, wala na tayong oras doon. So, we really need to bring in people who have the experience and who are professional,” he said.
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“Remember, these people, even if they work in previous administration, these are professional people. These are people who joined government, who by the way, were already in the private sector and obviously enjoying the fruits of the private sector and the levels of stress in the private sector, but they are professionals and they know what to do.”
“Remember, these people, even if they work in previous administration, these are professional people. These are people who joined government, who by the way, were already in the private sector and obviously enjoying the fruits of the private sector and the levels of stress in the private sector, but they are professionals and they know what to do.”
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