The History of Philippine Transportation

If there's one thing I wish our Araling Panlipunan had as a topic, it's about our transportation. Our mobility influenced our decisions as much as our decisions influenced mobility. It weaves and sways like a road or street... sometimes it pierces through like an untamed expressway through our history.

Inspired by the Evolving Timeline of the Web's history by Jay Hoffmann.

• (Jun 1887) Ferrocarril de Manila a Dagupan Starts

  Under Spanish reign, one of the first rail in Asia begins construction at Tutuban moving northwards to Dagupan, spanning 195 kilometers. The line opened in 1892, roughly 4 years after.

• (Feb 2019) North South Commuter Rail Phase 1 Starts

  Lead by the DOTR, construction of PNR Clark Phase 1 will stretch across Tutuban, Manila until Malolos, Bulacan. Spanning 38 kilometers, it was estimated to have partial operations by 2023. The pandemic however had other plans.

• (Dec 2019) Metro Manila Subway Starts

  After decades of countless proposals, planning and revisions, the Manila Subway began construction at Valenzuela (clearing). Roughly one year after, one of the tunnel boring machines to be used for the endeavor was revealed. It was not until 2023 will these boring machines face the ground they'll actually dig through due to the pandemic.