Aquino reconstitutes inter-agency transport planning body

President Benigno Aquino III has reconstituted the Inter-Agency Technical Committee on Transport Planning (IATCTP) to formulate comprehensive and integrated transport plans towards sustainable economic growth. Aquino issued Memorandum Order No. 25 dated Oct. 26, to avoid duplication of efforts among the agencies involved in transport programs and projects. "The transportation infrastructure has the biggest share in the country’s infrastructure investment program and will continue to be among the critical drivers of the country’s economic growth," Aquino said in his order, according to a Malacañang statement. Under the memorandum order, the IATCTP is to formulate standards and guidelines for the preparation of agency plans for transport development. The IATCTP is tasked to coordinate the conduct of studies, researches and data-gathering [efforts] on various aspects of the transport sector. "It shall develop a transport information system to provide the information needs of all transport planning and other relevant agencies," Aquino said. He added the committee shall serve as a forum for the resolution of operational problems of transport agencies. Also, it shall provide the National Economic and Development Authority Board Committee on Infrastructure (NEDA-Board INFRACOM) with up-to-date information needed in the review and evaluation of transport plans and projects. "The Committee shall submit to the NEDA Board INFRACOM any issues/concerns that require adoption/resolution by the latter," he added. Aquino designated the Deputy Director-General of the NEDA-National Development Office as chairperson of the IATCTP. He designated the Assistant Director-General of the NEDA-National Development Office and the Directors of NEDA-Infrastructure Staff; NEDA-National Planning and Policy Staff; NEDA-Project Monitoring Staff and the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS) as members. Other members of the committee are the Heads of Planning Service/Unit of:

- Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) - Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) - Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) - Philippine National Railways (PNR) - Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) - Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)

The new MO shall supersede Memorandum Order No. 473 that was signed in 1974. — LBG, GMA News