The Missing Link in Transport Modernization: Why PUV Stops Deserve DOTr-DPWH-DBM Funding

When the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) unveiled new stops in Marikina City last week, it was more than a simple infrastructure project. The waiting sheds are equipped with solar-powered lights, charging ports, CCTV, tactile paving, and designated seating for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) represent a small but significant step toward inclusive and resilient public transport.

But for most of the country's commuters, such facilities remain a rarity. Across cities and municipalities, millions of Filipinos continue to wait under scorching sun or heavy rain, often along unsafe and unlit roadsides. Despite their essential role in ensuring orderly, comfortable, and secure public transport operations, PUV stops and terminals remain among the least funded components of our national transport system.

Scenes like this are an everyday reality for millions of commuters, who wait for a ride without shelter, shade, or safety. Source: Philippine News Agency (2022).

The Missing Link in Modernization

SafeTravelPH's position paper on the 2026 DOTr budget highlights this persistent gap. While billions are allocated to road expansion projects, infrastructure that directly serves commuters receives only a fraction of national spending. Out of the total P2.63 billion budget for the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) and Service Contracting, none is earmarked explicitly for PUV stop and terminal infrastructure, which are core facilities needed to operationalize Local Public Transport Route Plans (LPTRPs).

This imbalance reflects a broader misconception that modernization begins and ends with vehicle replacement. In truth, a modern, efficient, and equitable transport system depends on the spaces between trips: the stops, terminals, and sidewalks that connect commuters safely and comfortably to public vehicles. Without these, route plans remain theoretical, and service improvements fail to materialize.

Priorities and Alignments

The PUV stop projects of DOTr are part of its Active Transport program, which has experienced declining budgets since the pandemic. In the proposed 2026 DOTr budget, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) alloted only PhP69 million for this program out of the proposed PhP2.4 billion. The DBM, which admitted that it does not have the technical staff to review the engineering projects of the DPWH—leading to copy-pasted line items—also outrightly slashed other public transport projects of the DOTr in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Extracted from DOTr Budget Hearing presentation last September 2025. Source: House of Representatives Youtube Channel.

Former DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon, who now leads DPWH will have the better opportunity to align plans for better sidewalks and cycling infrastructure with actual resources and engineering.

Designed with universal access principles, the DPWH-DOTr standard shelters integrate PWD-friendly seating, tactile guidance for the visually impaired, and solar energy features that enhance safety and sustainability. These are not luxuries; they are lifelines for commuters who depend on public transport every day.

PUV Stops opened in Malabon opened earlier this year. Source: The Philippine Star (2025).

Scaling up such designs nationwide requires dedicated funding and policy consistency. Isolated pilot projects, no matter how successful, will not transform the commuter experience unless replicated across cities and towns through long-term programs.

Accessibility is NOT an Afterthought

Inclusive design must be built into every phase of transport infrastructure planning. Features such as adequate lighting, shaded seating, accessible ramps, and tactile paving are not aesthetic additions; they determine whether elderly, disabled, or pregnant passengers can travel safely and with dignity. Neglecting these details perpetuates exclusion and inequality in everyday mobility.

Singapore's bus stops, which are well-marked, equipped with bus network maps, and illuminated at night, make it easy not just for locals but also for tourists to find their way in the bustling city. Source: Latest on SAYS website (2017).

Accessibility also supports broader transport efficiency. Well-designed stops encourage ridership, reduce boarding delays, and promote organized loading and unloading, ultimately improving the entire network's functionality for everyone.

A Call to Congress: Fund the Missing Infrastructure

The 2026 National Expenditure initially proposed P880 billion for DPWH (now decreased to P625.7 billion), but only P2.63 billion for programs serving over 20 billion annual public transport trips. Redirecting even a small portion of this allocation toward PUV stop and terminal infrastructure would yield exponential benefits, enhancing commuter safety, system reliability, and overall quality of urban life.

SafeTravelPH urges Congress to institutionalize funding for inclusive PUV stops under the PTMP and DPWH-DOTr convergence programs. These investments should support LGUs in designing, constructing, and maintaining facilities that meet accessibility and safety standards nationwide.

Modern public transport is not just about fleets, it's about people. Investing in inclusive PUV stops is investing in the daily dignity, safety, and resilience of the Filipino commuter. It's time to move beyond shelters and start building gateways to a truly people-centered mobility system.