DOTr: New transport hubs up and running next year

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects to complete three more big-ticket terminals in 2027 that would enhance land-based transport around and within Luzon.

The DOTr is on track to open land terminals, costing a combined P6.43 billion, in Taguig, Ilocos Norte and El Nido, Palawan by 2027.

Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said these projects would help accelerate land travel in Luzon and expand bus routes for commuters.

The P5.2-billion Taguig City Integrated Terminal Exchange (TCITX), the largest of these three, covers 5.57 hectares in Western Bicutan. Pastor said the project is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2027.

The TCITX is financed through a public-private partnership with Ayala Land Inc. It is designed to house multiple modes of transport, from provincial buses to in-city jeeps.

Further, the TCITX will be connected to the Metro Manila Subway System and the North-South Commuter Railway, as the two railways will host stations in the area.

Pastor said the third and final leg of the Ilocos Norte Transport Hub and Parking Building would be finished by the fourth quarter of 2027.

The project, costing P1.08 billion, spans 2.35 hectares, with the first phase done in 2024 and the second segment this year.

The terminal is envisioned as a multimodal hub that offers different modes of transport. It will be designated as a transfer point for going in and out of Ilocos Norte.

Pastor added the El Nido Transport Terminal would be completed next year. The project will cost P150 million to build, split into two phases, with the first expected to be finished this year.