Philippines bets big on rail, but can it fix a broken transport network?

The Philippine government plans to vastly increase spending on public transport, but some experts warn it may not be enough to fix the country's broken transport network. Manila commuters often endure lengthy journeys, with a typical 14km trip taking over two hours. The administration led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aims to more than double the transport department's budget to 300.96 billion pesos ($4.8 billion) next year.

This money will fund major railway projects to ease congestion in the capital and surrounding provinces. However, transport planners and advocates argue that simply increasing funding will not solve the city's problems. They stress the importance of not neglecting existing buses, jeepneys, and other forms of public transport while new projects are being built, many of which are years away from completion.

The government's budget increase is seen as necessary by some, but critics warn that putting all financial resources into one project at the expense of others could be detrimental. Some projects, like the EDSA Carousel bus rapid transit system, have received little funding, which advocates say is a major shortcoming. The Marcos administration's decision to raise transport spending comes amid mounting costs for railway projects, many of which rely on a mix of internal funding and substantial foreign loans.

Building railways is disproportionately more expensive compared to other transport projects. While the new railway projects may benefit commuters in the long run, experts suggest that integrated transport systems with buses and jeepneys that complement rail will be the most effective solution in the short term.