RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE PRIORITIZATION OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND THE EFFICIENCY OF SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT IN SEAPORTS, AIRPORTS, EXPRESSWAYS AND NATIONAL ROADS WITH THE END VIEW OF STREAMLINING ITS OPERA TIONS TO IMPROVE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC

Whereas, ground and air transportation infrastructures are crucial for economic development, domestic and foreign investment, as well as job creation, which are necessary to reduce poverty in the Philippines, The quality, adequacy and accessibility of infrastructure facilities and services are needed in order to achieve efficient movement of people and goods, and this ultimately impacts on the country’s competitiveness;

Whereas, the goal of the ASEAN Economic Community is to fully integrate by 2015. AEC envisages the following key characteristics: (a) a single market and production base, (b) a highly competitive economic region, (c) a region of equitable economic development, and (d) a region fully integrated into the global economy. Modern efficient road systems are being implemented in Southeast Asia. Malaysia had set the standards for their region with 1,500 kilometers of expressways in operation. Malaysian and Indian toll expressways were built and operated using Build Operate and Transfer/Public Private Partnership (BOT /PPP) financing to avail of private sector capital and management;

Whereas, last December 2014, millions of Filipinos, traveling by air, water and land for the holidays, accessed major transportation hubs and experienced heavy traffic and congestion in major ports, airports and toll ways in the country. Based on news reports, massive traffic was recorded during the holiday rush in the South and North Luzon Expressways. The traffic was attributed to the slow processing of toll payments in the tollgates. Furthermore, the public had to stop at several tollgates within a short distance and this resulted to the build-up of cars in the expressways. Moreover, port congestion continues to be a problem with the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) at 86% and South Harbor Terminal at 91%, far from the ideal utilization level of 70%. Flight cancellations and delays were also reported during the recent holiday break in major airports in the country;

Whereas, the Philippines need to improve its limited network of seaports, airports and expressways, to the detriment of transporting passengers or goods, by land, water or air. The national government should focus on the improvement and integration of major transportation infrastructures.

Whereas, it is crucial to have a periodic planning process that will identify the critical road segments and undertake feasibility and economic analysis in order to determine the needed investment and improvement in the systems operations of the transportation infrastructure. The different government agencies and offices, such as the Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Public Works and Highways, need to intensify their inter-agency work plan and strategy in order to address the recurring heavy traffic in the flow of goods and passengers in the country;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the appropriate Senate Committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the prioritization of transportation infrastructure projects and the efficiency of the systems management in seaports, airports, expressways and national roads with the end view of streamlining its operations to improve the services to the public.

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