Dizon revamps transport team

(L-R) Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon, Atty. Giovanni Z. Lopez, Undersecretary for Administration, Finance, and Procurement; Atty. Mark Steven C. Pastor, Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure; Mr. Jim C. Sydiongco, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports; Mr. Ramon G. Reyes, Undersecretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure; and Mr. Dioscoro T. Reyes, Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure. —DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION-PHILIPPINES/FACEBOOK

Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon assembled a new team at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and created a management office to fast-track the execution of priority transportation projects.

On Thursday, the new transport czar swore into office new undersecretaries: Giovanni Lopez (administration, finance and procurement); Mark Steven Pastor (road transport and infrastructure); Jim Sydiongco (aviation and airports); Ramon Reyes (road transport and noninfrastructure); and Teodorico Jose Delfin (planning and project development).

Raul Del Rosario is designated as acting director general and director of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Villamor Ventura Plan took oath as assistant secretary for maritime sector, while Dioscoro Reyes is now assistant secretary for road transport and noninfrastructure.

However, Dizon has yet to announce other posts, including undersecretary for railways.

He also set up a new body called the Flagship Project Management Office (FPMO) to handle the country’s massive transportation projects—including the Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR)—in response to President Marcos’ directive.

The FPMO—which is headed by Dizon himself—is responsible for directing policies related to infrastructure building and ensuring the “allotment of maximum effort and resources of the DOTr.”

“I will personally monitor the projects guided by very strict timelines. So we will impose deadlines for these projects,” said Dizon.

Priority projects

The FPMO is tasked with coordinating with DOTr sectors and attached agencies, partners and other government agencies in realizing the projects, in addition to managing finances.

The 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway is an underground railway with 17 stations connecting Valenzuela City to Pasay City that can serve as much as 519,000 passengers daily once operational.

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The NSCR, meanwhile, has 35 stations spanning 28 local government units from Pampanga to Laguna. It is expected to serve more than a million passengers daily.

Also prioritized is the Edsa Greenways project, a mass transit walkway spanning Balintawak, Cubao, Guadalupe and Taft. The idea is to build a better pedestrian access to and from selected railway stations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1, LRT 2 and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 along Edsa.

In the regions, the DOTr said it would focus on the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit and Davao Public Transport Modernization.

Moving forward, Dizon will identify other priority projects to improve mobility.

Dizon also wants to start rehabilitating the Edsa busway this year.