On track or off rails? State of PH transport

All things considered, 2025 was a transition period for the transportation sector as the government sought to shift away from car-centric planning toward a more commuter-friendly model.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

This shift has been defined by two leadership changes, ambitious plans, and a lot more waiting.

When President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was elected in 2022, he essentially carried over the public infrastructure agenda of the previous administration, rebranding the previous Build! Build! Build! (BBB) program of former president Rodrigo Duterte as the Build Better More program, or BBM for short.

Under his administration, Marcos vowed to continue and expand Duterte’s agenda, saying that: “We shall confidently build on this firm foundation established by my predecessor.”

This meant ordering the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to “move with full speed ahead in improving the railway system, modernizing existing airports and seaports, and connecting [the country’s] many islands.”

It was a historic moment for the sector, as big-ticket transport projects are often vulnerable to disruption during leadership transitions, with successive administrations seeking to leave their own distinct mark on the industry rather than carry forward those already underway.

But as quickly as Marcos’ relationship with Duterte went off the rails last year, the question now is: Is the transport sector still on track?

First stop: Bautista station

At the start of 2025, the DOTr is already off to a bad start after its proposed budget of P180.14 billion was cut by more than half to 87.24 billion. At the time, then-Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the would have little effect on ongoing projects, as the country's development partners funded most.

Bautista, a former president and chief operating officer of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), was tapped to lead the DOTr in June 2022, with one of his main agenda being the privatization of the country's major transport infrastructure.