Passengers enjoy free rides at the MRT-3 Cubao Station in Quezon City on Wednesday (April 30, 2025). President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday (May 1) pledged that the government would continue improving the country’s critical infrastructure to ease the commuting experience of Filipino workers. (PNA photo by Robert Alfiler)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. promised a major push to improve the country’s critical infrastructure—aiming to ease the daily commute of millions of hardworking Filipinos.
Speaking at the 123rd Labor Day celebration held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Thursday, Marcos highlighted the urgent need to reduce the burden of long, difficult commutes that take a toll on workers and their families.
“Every single day, millions of Filipinos wake up before dawn just to get to work. Our goal is to give you that time back—time better spent with your loved ones, not wasted in endless lines and traffic,” the President said, striking a heartfelt tone.
To make that vision a reality, the government is ramping up infrastructure projects across the country—building and upgrading roads, bridges, and ports to ensure faster and safer travel.
Among the immediate improvements: extended operating hours for both the MRT-3 and LRT-1 lines, and increased operational train sets on the LRT-2—from just six or seven to a full fleet of ten. The government is also actively repairing elevators and escalators at all train stations to ensure a smoother commuting experience.
But the long-term plan goes even further. President Marcos laid out several large-scale transport projects in the pipeline, including:
- The completion of MRT-7
- The North-South Commuter Railway
- The Metro Manila Subway
- The EDSA Busway Improvement Project
“These are not just infrastructure projects—they’re solutions to the real-life struggles of commuters,” Marcos emphasized. “It’s heartbreaking to see people still waiting for a ride on C5 or EDSA past midnight. We need to change that.”
He added, “We want to reach the point where Filipino workers can come home earlier, sit down for dinner with their families, and rest—without the daily stress of a broken commute.”
To show appreciation for workers this Labor Day, Marcos also announced free rides on select train lines from April 30 to May 3—a small token of gratitude for the sacrifices made by the country’s workforce.