Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) successfully convened top transport leaders, government officials, and industry experts for its 4th Transport Conference held recently at Okada Manila. The annual event, themed “Co-Pilots: Navigating a Safer, Smarter & More Sustainable Future in Transportation,” underscored the critical importance of collaboration in enhancing road safety and driving transport innovation across the Philippines.
MPTC President and CEO, Gilbert Santa Maria, kicked off the conference by highlighting the company’s ongoing infrastructure projects and reaffirming robust support for logistics and passenger transport partners.
“Your business supports our business. That’s why we aim to provide all the possible ways to ease and improve your mobility experience in our expressways,” Santa Maria stated, emphasizing MPTC’s dedication to providing a seamless environment for its commercial road users.
The conference served as a vital forum, gathering key representatives from the nation’s largest transport organizations, including the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP), Inland Haulers and Truckers Association (INHTA), Haulers and Truckers Association in the Watersouth, Inc. (HATAW), Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO), and the Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas, Inc. (NSNPBPI), alongside various national jeepney and UV Express groups.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Atty. Giovanni Z. Lopez delivered a compelling keynote address, urging the industry to forge stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate modernization efforts. Panel discussions throughout the day focused on pressing issues such as transport safety protocols, the adoption of digital systems, standardized driver education, and the future development roadmap for tollway networks.
Underscoring a primary takeaway from the event, Mr. Santa Maria stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility, calling on all stakeholders to sustain collaborative efforts in protecting the lives of all road users.
“As we continue to build infrastructure projects and invest in technological improvements, let’s work together to prioritize safer driving, better driver practices, and stricter compliance with traffic rules and regulations,” he concluded.
The 4th Transport Conference successfully fostered stronger connections among all major transportation players and established a clear commitment to future initiatives centered on safety, sustainability, and innovation in Philippine mobility.
