Dizon pushes high-capacity mass transit, airport upgrades, busway privatization

Newly appointed Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon emphasized the importance of high-capacity mass transit systems to alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Dizon highlighted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to fast-track projects such as the Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway, stressing the need for cooperation with local government units and the private sector to resolve right-of-way issues delaying infrastructure projects.

He expressed a desire for a world-class subway system similar to those in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore, emphasizing the urgency of completing these projects quickly.

Dizon also noted that improving regional airports is crucial for boosting tourism in areas like Siargao and Palawan.

Beyond mass transit, Dizon said privatizing the operations and maintenance of EDSA Busway was 'the way to go' to improve public transportation, with a feasibility study underway for the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (MAPALLA) Ferry System modeled after systems in Thailand and New York.