SIGNING. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista (left) with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema during the signing of technical cooperation project agreement on road transport projects in San Juan City on Wednesday (July 17, 2024). Bautista said the agreement would boost projects such as the Public Transport Modernization Program, the EDSA Busway, Active Transport Program, and the EDSA Greenways Project. (Photo courtesy of DOTr)
MANILA – The Japanese government renewed its support to the country’s big-ticket road transport projects through a new accord signed with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday.
The agreement, meant to enhance the quality and efficiency of the country’s road transport systems, was signed between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the DOTr in Makati City.
During the signing ceremony, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the three-year technical cooperation project (TCP) agreement would grant the DOTr capacity development initiatives to support road-based public transport systems through route planning, improvement of intermodal facilities, and service level monitoring.
“This project is not just a plan on paper - it represents the culmination of a series of technical discussions and collaborative efforts between DOTr and JICA,” he said.
He added that the agreement would boost the capacity of road-based public transport and improve inter-modality of these transport systems.
“Our focus with this cooperation project is clear, to improve road transport systems in Metro Manila and surrounding regions,” he said.
The agreement will boost road projects such as the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), EDSA Busway, Active Transport Program, and the EDSA Greenways Project.
Aside from improving road projects, he said the TCP will also serve as an important reference for future public road transport projects that would support the country’s growing number of commuters.
During the event, JICA Chief Represetative Sakamoto Takema expressed confidence that the project will achieve its objectives fully within a span of three years.
“We are transforming public transportation in the Philippines. Let's create a history,” Sakamoto said. (PNA)
