DOTr eyes Phl as Asian leader on sustainable transport

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) hopes to turn the Philippines into the Asian standard for sustainable mobility through several big-ticket projects currently being pursued by the government.

- ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES

In a speech before the High-Level 16th Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia, Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said the Philippines is committed to leading its Asian peers in pushing for green transportation initiatives.

Batan underscored the urgency for the Philippines to pursue sustainable measures, as it is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change across the globe.

As such, the DOTr is undertaking a multibillion-peso program to promote sustainable practices in the transportation industry. Currently, the agency is building railways that stretch throughout Metro Manila, such as the P873.62-billion North-South Commuter Railway and the P488.48-billion Metro Manila Subway Project.