MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said that the Philippines has yet to reach the point of smart transportation.
Addressing diplomats and foreign business leaders at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Taguig City, Marcos said that the government is pushing for better transportation.
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“While we have not yet reached the point of seamless smart transportation, we are not standing still either. We have a wide range of programs and projects underway, all aimed at making our transport systems more efficient and our cities smarter,” said Marcos.
Marcos’ statement comes amid the government’s long-delayed Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, which seeks to phase out old jeepneys and replace them with newer models that adhere to new guidelines.
The President said the National Transport Policy (NTP) stands as a guide for development.
“This policy recognizes the crucial role that transportation plays in our socio-economic development. This is about enabling inclusive and sustainable growth and helping us achieve our broader national goals,” said Marcos.
According to the National Economic and Development Authority’s website, the NTP is the country’s guide to developing the transportation sector, which includes “passengers, shippers, service providers, investors, agencies and instrumentalities of government and those involved in the movement of people and goods and in the provision of transport infrastructure, facilities and services, shall abide by and use as guidance in transport development, management, operations, and use.”