Transportation in the Philippines

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The MRT Line 3 in 2024

Transportation in the Philippines covers the transportation methods within this

archipelagic nation of over 7,500 islands. From a previously underdeveloped state of transportation, the government of the Philippines has been improving transportation through various direct infrastructure projects, and these include an increase in air, sea, road, and rail transportation and transport hubs.[1]

Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3, and the PNR Metro Commuter Line operated by the Philippine National Railways. There are also steam engines found in Visayas mostly Negros island which operate sugar mills such as Central Azucarera. Taxis and buses
are also important modes of public transport in urban areas.

The Philippines has 12 international airports and more than 20 major and minor domestic airports serving the country.[5] The Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the country's chief airport.[6]

Road infrastructure

Roads

Colon Street in Cebu City, Cebu

As of October 2018, the Philippines has 217,317 kilometers (135,035 mi) of roads.[7] The road network consists of:

  • National roads – 33,018.25 kilometers (20,516.59 mi) (2019)[8]
  • Provincial roads – 31,620 kilometers (19,650 mi) (2018)[7]
  • City and municipal roads – 31,063 kilometers (19,302 mi) (2018)[7]
  • Barangay roads – 121,702 kilometers (75,622 mi) (2018)[7]

In 1940, there were 22,970 kilometers (14,270 mi) of road in the entire country, half of which was in central and southern Luzon.[9] The roads served 50,000 vehicles.[9]

Road classification is based primarily on administrative responsibilities (with the exception of barangays), i.e., which level of government built and funded the roads. Most of the barangay roads are unpaved village-access roads built in the past by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), but responsibility for maintaining these roads have been devolved to local government units (LGUs). Farm-to-market roads fall under this category, and a few are financed by the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Agriculture.[10]

Highways

Main article: Philippine highway network
EDSA in Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati
Sayre Highway in Bukidnon

Highways in the Philippines include national roads classified into three types: national primary, national secondary, and national tertiary roads.[11]

The Pan-Philippine Highway is a 3,517 kilometres (2,185 mi) network of roads, bridges, and ferry services that connect the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao, serving as the Philippines' principal transport backbone. The northern terminus of the highway is in Laoag, and the southern terminus is at Zamboanga City.

Commonwealth Avenue is also an important highway in the metropolis, it serves the Quezon City area and has a length of 12.4 km (7.7 mi). Other important thoroughfares in Metro Manila that are part of the Philippine highway network include España Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, Taft Avenue, and the Alabang–Zapote Road
.

Outside Metro Manila, the

N68) links the province of Quezon to Bicol Region. Located in Cebu City is the Colon Street, considered the oldest thoroughfare in the country. Among the major highways in Mindanao are Sayre Highway, Butuan–Cagayan de Oro–Iligan Road, Surigao–Davao Coastal Road, Davao–Cotabato Road, and Maria Clara L. Lobregat Highway
.

The

Strong Republic Nautical Highway links many of the islands' road networks through a series of roll-on/roll-off
ferries, some rather small covering short distances and some larger vessels that might travel several hours or more.

Expressways

Main article: Philippine expressway network
Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway
Metro Manila Skyway

The Philippines has numerous expressways and most of them are located in the main island of the country, Luzon. The first expressway systems in the country are the North Luzon Expressway formerly known as North Diversion Road and the South Luzon Expressway, formerly known as South Super Highway. Both were built in the 1970s, during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos.

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) is a 4 to 8-lane limited-access toll expressway that connects Metro Manila to the provinces of the Central Luzon region. The expressway begins in Quezon City at a cloverleaf interchange with EDSA. It then passes through various cities and municipalities in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga. The expressway ends at Mabalacat and merges with the MacArthur Highway, which continues northward into the rest of Central and Northern Luzon.

The

Laguna and ends in Santo Tomas, Batangas
.

The

Clark Freeport Zone and its northern terminus is at Brgy. Amucao in Tarlac City. Construction on the expressway began in April 2005, and opened to the public three years later.[13]

The

Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) is an expressway that connects Cavite, Laguna and Metro Manila. As of 2023, it connects Silang and Biñan
, with construction ongoing for the remainder.

The Philippine government and other private sectors are building more plans and proposals to build new expressways through public–private partnership.[14]

Road transport

As of May 2022, there are over 5.8 million registered

SUVs at 16 percent, and trucks at 3 percent.[15]


Automobiles

Main article:
Automotive industry of the Philippines

The Philippines'

four-cylinder engines. In the early 1970s, the local Volkswagen assembler attempted to build a native national car, the "Volkswagen Sakbayan" (short for sasakyangkatutubongbayan), to avoid reliance on imported "completely-knocked-down" or "semi-knocked-down" parts, but this did not last long.[17] In 1972 the government instituted the Progressive Car Manufacturing Program (PCMP), a system with scheduled increases in local parts content requirement which also allowed program participants to import a certain proportion of CBU vehicles.[16] The original participants were General Motors, Ford, PAMCOR (a Chrysler/Mitsubishi joint venture), Delta Motors Corporation (Toyota), and Nissan Motor Philippines
.

As of May 2022, cars account for 9 percent of all registered motor vehicles in the country, while SUVs account for 7 percent of the total.[15]

Bus

See also: List of bus companies of the Philippines
A BBL Trans provincial bus in Biñan, Laguna

Buses, after ferries and airlines, are the next primary mode of long-distance transportation in the Philippines.

Public bus services in the Philippines are divided into two types: provincial buses and city buses. Provincial buses are used for medium- to long-haul routes between cities and towns (including those involving ferries). City bus networks exist in the three metropolitan areas (Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao). Bus services are run by private companies, and routes, operations and fares are regulated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

third BRT system is under construction in Cebu City
.

Motorcycles

See also: Motorcycling
Motorcycle riders with back riders along Park Avenue in Pasay

Motorcycles are the most dominant form of private transportation in the country, accounting for 49 percent of all registered motor vehicles as of May 2022.[15] A Social Weather Stations survey in 2021 also reveals that 36 percent of households nationwide reported owning a motorcycle, accounting for 50 percent of vehicle owners.[18] They are commonly used for package and food delivery services to transport goods and are often regarded as a cheaper alternative to buying a private car. Motorcycles are also regarded for their size which allows them to easily split through lanes in heavily congested traffic corridors and be easily stored or parked. They have also been used for taxi services, commonly referred to as an angkas.[19]

The use of motorcycles grew in popularity in the country started in the 1990s with motorcycle enthusiasts that went on leisure rides and delivery companies that sought a cheap, efficient way of moving goods around. Initially limited to American brands, the entry of Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese motorcycle brands disrupted the market throughout the early 2000s and sparked a growing interest in motorcycle ownership and usage. By 2005, the number of registered motorcycles surpassed that of cars.[19]

Limousines

The Lincoln Continental Presidential limousine used by President Ferdinand Marcos, 2014

Limousines are used by the

S-Class, as well as SUV-based limousines such as the Cadillac Escalade and Hummer H2
.

Jeepneys

Main article: Jeepney
A typical jeepney in Legazpi, Albay

Jeepneys are the most popular means of

US military jeeps left over from World War II[20] and are known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating. They have become a ubiquitous symbol of Filipino culture
.

Original jeepneys were simply refurbished military jeeps by Willys and Ford, modern jeepneys are now produced by independently owned workshops and factories in the Philippines with surplus engines and parts coming from Japan. In the central island of Cebu, the bulk of jeepneys are built from second-hand Japanese trucks, originally intended for cargo. These are euphemistically known as "surplus" trucks.

There are two classes of jeepney builders in the Philippines.

Mitsubishi Fuso
4D30 diesel engines). The second type is the large volume manufacturer. They have two subgroups: the PUJ, or "public utility jeep," and the large volume metal-stamping companies that supply parts as well as complete vehicles.

The jeepney builders in the past were mostly based in Cebu City and Las Piñas. The largest manufacturer of vintage-style army jeepneys is MD Juan. Other makers include Armak Motors (San Pablo, Laguna), Celestial Motors (San Pablo, Laguna), Hebron Motors, LGS Motors, Malagueña (Imus, Cavite), Mega (Lipa, Batangas), Morales Motors (San Mateo, Rizal), and Sarao Motors (Las Piñas). Another manufacturer, PBJ Motors, manufactured jeepneys in Pampanga using techniques derived from Sarao Motors. Armak sells remanufactured trucks and vehicles as an adjunct, alongside its jeepneys.

Motorized tricycles

Motorized tricycles in Laoag, Ilocos Norte in 2014
This paragraph is an excerpt from Motorized tricycle (Philippines).[edit]
In the Philippines,
public utility vehicles either ply a set route or are for-hire, like taxis.[21]

As of May 2022, motorized tricycles account for 11 percent of all registered motor vehicles in the country.[15]

Taxi

Main article: Taxis of the Philippines
A Toyota Innova taxi in Baguio, 2021

Taxis are mostly used in metropolitan areas.[citation needed]

Non-motorized land transport

See also: Human-powered transport and Cycling in the Philippines
A woman carrying her bicycle through a market in Baliwag, Bulacan

Human-powered and animal-powered transport exist in the Philippines in the form of walking, cycling,[22] pedicabs (also known as traysikad or padyak), and horse- or cattle-drawn kalesas.[23] The United Nations and such organizations as Clean Air Asia[24] support the integration of non-motorized transport as part of a clean and "highly cost-effective transportation strategy" that "brings about large health, economic and social co-benefits, particularly for the urban poor."[25]

In Marikina, the local government constructed a network of bikeways to help reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption, and traffic congestion in the city. The bikeways project was awarded by the World Health Organization in 2008 in the category of climate change and health.[24]

According to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations on bicycle ownership in May 2021, over 20 percent of households nationwide reported owning a bicycle, accounting for 27 percent of vehicle owners.[18]

Rail transport

Main article: Rail transportation in the Philippines
The LRT Line 2 in 2009

Rail transportation in the

PNR Metro South Commuter Line. The government has plans to expand the country's railway footprint from 77 kilometers as of 2017 to more than 320 kilometers by 2022.[26]

The

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), one of Metro Manila's main thoroughfares. It has 13 stations along its 16.95 km track form a single line which is the Line 3 which passes through the cities of Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasay and Quezon City. Some of the stations of the system have been retrofitted with escalators and elevators for easier access, and ridership has increased. By 2004, Line 3 had the highest ridership of the three lines, with 400,000 passengers daily.[30]

The

Spanish Colonial period.[31] The intercity rail used to provide services on Luzon, connecting northern and southern Luzon with Manila; on the other hand, the tramway served what is known today as Metro Manila. In 1988, the railway line to northern Luzon became disused and later the services to Bicol were halted although plans to revive the southern line are around as of 2015. Panay Railways is a company that ran rail lines on Panay until 1989 and Cebu
until World War II.

Water transport

A pump boat off the coast of Palawan (island)

Boats

See also: Bangka (boat)

Motorized and non-motorized boats are the primary mode of water transportation between islands and across inland and coastal waters.[32] The native bangka is also typically used for fishing, transporting goods, and island hopping tours.[33]

River ferries

The

Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Manila to Nagpayong station in Pasig. The second line was the Marikina River Line which served the Guadalupe station in Makati up to Santa Elena station in Marikina
.

Ferry services

See also: Philippine Nautical Highway System
MV Trisha Kerstin 2 in Zamboanga International Seaport

Because it is an island nation, ferry services are an important means of transportation. A range of ships are used, from large cargo ships to small

Superferry and Negros Navigation) and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines.[34] Other trips can last for less than 15 minutes on small, open-air pump boats such as those that cross the Iloilo Strait or between the Caticlan jetty port and Boracay island
.

Ports and harbors

See also: List of ports in the Philippines and Philippine Ports Authority

The busiest port is the

Strong Republic Nautical Highway, a nautical system conceptualized under the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo where land vehicles can use the roll-on/roll-off
(ro-ro) ferries to cross between the different islands.

Air transport

Main article:
Air transportation in the Philippines

Airports

Main article: List of airports in the Philippines

Manila, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Clark, Subic, Zamboanga, Laoag, Legazpi and Puerto Princesa are the international gateways to the country, with Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila as the main and premier gateway of the country.[35]

Ninoy Aquino International Airport serves as the primary gateway of the Philippines, it serves the Metro Manila area and its surrounding regions. It is located in the boundary of Parañaque and Pasay in the National Capital Region. In 2012, NAIA became the 34th busiest airport in the world, passenger volume increased to about eight percent to a total of 32.1 million passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in Asia.[36]

Clark International Airport is also a major gateway to the country. It was originally planned to replace Ninoy Aquino International Airport as the country's premier airport, amid the plan to shut down Ninoy Aquino International Airport.[37] The airport mostly serves low-cost carriers that avail themselves of the lower landing fees than those charged at NAIA.

Other important airports in the Philippines are Mactan–Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo; Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City; Zamboanga International Airport in Zamboanga City; Puerto Princesa International Airport in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; General Santos International Airport in General Santos; and Bicol International Airport in Legazpi, Albay.

Airlines

Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the national flag carrier of the Philippines and is the first commercial airline in Asia.[38] Philippine Airlines remains as the country's biggest airline company, it has the largest number of international flights to the Philippines as well as domestic flights.[39] As of 2013, Philippine Airlines flies to 8 domestic and 58 international destinations in 33 countries and territories across Asia, North America, South America, Africa, Oceania and Europe.[40][41][42] The airlines operates hubs in Clark, Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Cebu Pacific is considered to be the country's low-cost carrier and leading domestic airline, flying to 37 domestic destinations. Since the launching of its international operations in November 2001, flies to 27 destinations in 15 countries and territories across Asia and Oceania.[43] As of 2013, the airline operates hubs in Manila, Cebu and Davao.[44]

Other low-cost carriers in the country include Cebgo, PAL Express, and Philippines AirAsia. These airlines have routes to several tourist destinations in the country.

Issues

With the rapid growth in economic activities and urbanization, public utility vehicles, along with private vehicles, exponentially increased in numbers, which resulted in poorer air quality and frequent traffic congestion in the cities.[45]

Traffic congestion

See also: Traffic congestion § Philippines
Traffic congestion along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue

Traffic congestion is an issue in Metro Manila. According to John Forbes, a senior advisor at the American Chamber of Commerce at the Philippines, increasing car sales and lack of mass transit and highways cause most traffic congestion, and was feared to make Metro Manila "uninhabitable" by 2020.[46] A TomTom Traffic Index report in 2024 cited Metro Manila as having the worst traffic in the world for a metropolitan area.[47]

Economic losses due to traffic congestion costs about ₱3 billion, as of 2012.

JICA.[49]

Air pollution

See also: Environmental issues in the Philippines
Smog over Metro Manila in 2019

There are around 270,000 franchised jeepney units on the road across the country, with some 75,000 units in Metro Manila alone.[50] With the country's fast development and economic growth, old-model jeepneys have become the main contributor to air pollution in the cities. According to the Manila Aerosol Characterization Experiment (MACE 2015) study, diesel-powered jeepneys, which account for 20% of the total vehicle fleet, are responsible for 94% of the soot particle mass in Metro Manila.[51]

See also

References

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