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MANILA, Philippines — At least 80,000 jobs for Filipinos are expected to be generated from transportation infrastructure projects, which in turn will contribute to the country’s economic resiliency and development, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Thursday.
He said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is prioritizing the completion of transportation projects in the rail, aviation and road sectors, including at least six “important projects,” which will be completed by 2025 to 2029.
There are also three major projects in the aviation sector that the DOTr focuses on, namely the Bulacan Airport (New Manila International Airport), Sangley Airport in Cavite and the modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“All these projects will provide employment. For the rail sector, we are looking at 60,000 direct employment. For the other sectors, aviation and road, we are looking at atleast 10,000 to 20,000 direct employment,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said in a statement.
“We expect that all these projects will really contribute to economic development, improve economic resilience, and contribute to growth in the economy,” he added.
Also part of the DOTr’s plan to improve the country’s transportation system are the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Davao Modernized BRT.
Bautista accompanied President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during his state visit to Singapore and spoke during the Philippine Economic Briefing.
Marcos Jr. recently returned to the country after his inaugural state visit in Indonesia and Singapore from September 4 to 7, aimed at strengthening the economic, cultural, defense, and security ties of the two Southeast Asian nations and the Philippines. — Christian Paul Dela Cruz, INQUIRER.net trainee