In 2024, the Philippines ranked 61st out of 67 countries in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking for infrastructure, a drop from 58th the year prior. That single data point captures the gap between where the country’s transport network stands and where it needs to be. The government has acknowledged this directly, with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista stating the nation must catch up in infrastructure development to accelerate economic progress. The response is a wave of projects—airport expansions, new railways, expressways, and even a revived ferry system—that together aim to change how people and goods move across the archipelago.
What Intermodal Connectivity Actually Means for the Philippines
Intermodal transportation is the idea that a traveler can switch from one mode of transport to another—plane to train, bus to ferry—without friction. In practice, that means a passenger arriving at a new airport can walk to a connected railway station or bus terminal rather than navigating separate, uncoordinated systems. The Philippines has historically struggled with this. Airports like Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were built as standalone facilities, and the road networks around them were added later, often under pressure.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the airport modernization push as more than physical upgrades—calling them long-term investments in mobility, opportunity, and national progress. The logic is straightforward: if a tourist can fly into a modern airport and immediately board a train to their destination, the entire travel experience improves. The same applies to cargo. But the real test is whether these projects, many of which are still under construction or in planning, will actually connect with each other when completed.
What Changes the Answer: Timing, Scale, and Coordination
The most consequential project in the pipeline is the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulacan. Led by San Miguel Aerocity Inc. under a 50-year concession agreement, NMIA is designed to handle up to 100 million passengers annually at full build-out. The first phase, scheduled to begin construction in January 2026 and finish by end-2028, will offer 35 million passengers per year of capacity. That alone would significantly relieve pressure on NAIA, which is currently undergoing a P170.6-billion upgrade to handle 62 million passengers annually and 48 flights per hour.
But capacity is only part of the equation. NMIA is positioned 18 kilometers from SM North Edsa and 15 kilometers from Balintawak, with a six-lane highway linking to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and a transport terminal for provincial buses. Proposals include extending the MRT-7 line to connect the airport site. If that rail link materializes, a passenger could theoretically travel from Quezon City to the airport without touching a road. If it doesn’t, the airport will rely entirely on the highway and buses—a scenario that could replicate the congestion problems NAIA faces today.
Meanwhile, the government is pursuing a parallel track of railway development. The North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway, MRT-7, MRT-4, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, and the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway are all in various stages of planning or construction. Transportation Secretary Bautista said these projects aim to “stir up the status quo” in the transport sector. The overarching goal is to improve mobility and connectivity because the current status quo is unacceptable. The question is whether the timelines align—an airport opening in 2028 is only useful if the railway or expressway serving it opens around the same time.
Complications, Exceptions, and the Fine Print
Airport Upgrades Beyond NAIA
The modernization push extends well beyond Metro Manila. President Marcos cited a modular Passenger Terminal Building at Siargao Airport, a new international terminal at Davao International Airport, upgrades at Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental and Bohol Panglao International Airport through public-private partnerships, and a new terminal at Caticlan Airport. These projects are meant to distribute air traffic away from the capital and make regional airports viable alternatives. But their success depends on connecting them to local transport networks—roads, buses, and in some cases, ferries—that are often less developed than those in Metro Manila.
The MAPALLA Ferry System
The Department of Transportation is studying the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake River Ferry (MAPALLA), a high-capacity, low-carbon ferry system linking Manila Bay and Laguna Lake via the Pasig River. If implemented, it would offer an alternative to road travel for commuters and cargo moving through the capital region. The catch is that the Pasig River has historically been plagued by pollution and informal settlements along its banks, and previous attempts at reviving river transport have struggled with ridership and maintenance.
Road Safety and the Shift to Electric Vehicles
The Philippines aims to reduce road traffic deaths by 35 percent by 2028 through the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan. At the same time, the DOTr is advocating a shift to electric cars, complementing the construction of electric railways to reduce carbon emissions. Private investments have been poured into 12 existing and five future expressways, providing wide lateral connectivity. But more roads don’t automatically mean safer roads, and the transition to electric vehicles is still in its early stages, with charging infrastructure limited to major urban areas.
What to Do With This Information
For Travelers Planning Domestic or International Trips
Until the intermodal network is fully operational, the practical advice is to build extra time into travel plans. NAIA’s upgrade is ongoing, and construction may cause delays. For flights out of NMIA after 2028, check whether the MRT-7 extension is operational before relying on rail. If it isn’t, the six-lane highway to NLEx is the primary option, and traffic patterns on that route will determine travel time. Provincial bus terminals at NMIA are part of the plan, but confirm availability before assuming a seamless bus-to-plane connection.
For Investors and Businesses in Logistics and Tourism
The combined capacity of NMIA and NAIA—over 160 million passengers annually at full build-out—signals a structural shift in how the Philippines handles air travel. Businesses that depend on air cargo or tourism should track the completion dates of the railway projects, particularly the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway, because these will determine whether the new airport capacity translates into faster logistics or just more passengers stuck in traffic. The 50-year concession for NMIA also suggests long-term stability for the airport city planned around it, which includes business, residential, and industrial zones.
For Commuters in Metro Manila and Surrounding Provinces
The railway projects—LRT-1 Cavite Extension, MRT-7, Metro Manila Subway, and the North-South Commuter Railway—are the most direct improvements for daily commuters. These are not airport-specific; they are designed to move people across the megacity region. The MRT-4 and the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway extend the network further, potentially allowing commuters to live farther from the city center without sacrificing travel time. The key is to watch for fare integration. Even if the physical tracks connect, passengers still need a single ticketing system to avoid paying separate fares for each leg of a journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the New Manila International Airport open? ▾
Will NMIA replace NAIA? ▾
Is there a train connection planned for NMIA? ▾
What other airports are being upgraded? ▾
What is the MAPALLA ferry system? ▾
How will these projects affect traffic in Metro Manila? ▾
What is the Philippines doing about road safety? ▾
Who is building the New Manila International Airport? ▾
Closing
The gap between the Philippines’ current infrastructure ranking and its ambitions is wide, but the projects in motion are real. The challenge is coordination—ensuring that airports, railways, expressways, and ferries open around the same time and actually connect to each other. For travelers, commuters, and investors, the next few years will reveal whether these plans translate into a genuinely intermodal system or remain a collection of well-built but disconnected pieces. If this was useful, you might also want to read our analysis on whether the Philippines is building the right infrastructure for its future.
Sources
Infrastructure investment driving sustainable development in the Philippines — A broader look at how infrastructure spending connects to long-term economic and environmental goals.
Can the Philippines lead the region in sustainable infrastructure? — Explores whether the country’s infrastructure projects align with sustainability targets and regional benchmarks.
New Manila International Airport positions Philippines for long-term growth. Inquirer, 2025.
Marcos highlights airport modernization as key to growth, connectivity. SunStar, 2026.
PH boosts transport infra to enhance connectivity. Manila Standard, 2025.
