A new report by the International Transport Forum (ITF) recommends that the Philippines implement key policy and infrastructure changes to address the country’s growing freight transport needs.
The recommendations, which are part of a broader study on Southeast Asia, aim to enhance connectivity, decarbonization, and resilience in the region’s logistics sector. The ITF predicts that freight transport demand in Southeast Asia will nearly double by 2050.
Key Recommendations for the Philippines
The ITF’s report highlights several specific actions for the Philippines to take:
Expand Ro-Ro Ferry Networks: The report recommends expanding roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry networks to meet the increasing demand for inter-island freight transport. This would improve logistics efficiency across the archipelago.
Improve Urban Freight Efficiency: To combat congestion in Metro Manila, the ITF suggests introducing dedicated truck lanes and implementing congestion pricing.
Promote Green Transport: The report encourages the adoption of electric and alternative fuel-powered freight vehicles through financial incentives like subsidized loans and tax breaks.
Strengthen Disaster Preparedness: The ITF advises using climate resilience grants to reinforce typhoon-exposed ports and logistics networks, particularly in vulnerable areas like Tacloban and Manila.
Regional Cooperation and Infrastructure
The ITF also called on the Philippines to collaborate on regional initiatives to streamline cross-border logistics. These include:
Simplifying Border Procedures: Harmonizing standards and documentation to make border crossings more efficient.
Enhancing Integration: Improving the integration of roads, railways, and ports to streamline transshipment at major hubs.
Upgrading Regional Corridors: Prioritizing upgrades to regional transport corridors to reduce costs and complete missing road and rail links.
Establishing a Task Force: Creating a regional connectivity task force to improve public and private sector capacity in logistics and corridor management.
Projected Benefits of Policy Measures
According to the report, a connectivity-focused approach, which includes investing in railways and ports and streamlining border procedures, could lead to a shift toward multimodal freight transport and fewer delays. The study’s analysis found that implementing these policies could reduce average transport costs for some Southeast Asian countries by up to 20% and keep regional freight carbon emissions constant between 2025 and 2050, despite the anticipated increase in demand.
The International Transport Forum is an intergovernmental organization with 69 member countries. It acts as a think tank for transport policy and organizes an annual summit of ministers. Its mission is to promote transport policies that improve people’s lives.
