Marcos wants to shift away from car-centric system: Mass transit is key
New Transport Secretary Vince Dizon takes his oath before President Ferdinand Marcos on Feb. 21 in Malacañang (Photo from Presidential Communications Office)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to veer away from a transportation system centered on private cars, said Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief Vivencio “Vince” Dizon on Friday.
Dizon made the pronouncement during a Palace press conference when he himself admitted that the current transportation system is too “car-centric.”
“Absolutely, it’s true. In the past the solution to traffic has always been building roads, the problem with building roads, building roads attracts more cars. That’s just how it is,” said Dizon.
“‘Build wider streets, and of course, buying cars is also a function of the development of our fellow countrymen, so we have to veer away from that and I think we are veering away from that and that is what the President wants,” Dizon added partly in Filipino.
According to Dizon, creating new roads is not the “ultimate solution,” but rather a “high-capacity mass transit” and making cities more conducive to walking.
Article continues after this advertisement“We just have to think out of the box and find ways—like the [Edsa Greenways] that’s one innovative way of helping our commuting public who want to walk,” Dizon said, referring to a project announced in 2024 which seeks to improve the pedestrian environment in Edsa.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: DOTr announces Edsa Greenway project
Meanwhile, when asked if he is open to proposing schemes such as four-day work days, congestion fees, or the closure of some roads to private cars, Dizon responded in the negative.
Dizon explained that apart from the fact that it is not solely his purview to implement such decisions, solutions to these problems must first be studied to ensure that it will have a positive impact on commuters.
“We’ll just have to find ways. We’ll just have to find ways to balance everything kasi it’s a balancing act eh,” he said.
