A New Approach to Setting the Future Transport Agenda

Abstract

This paper has been concerned with methodology applied to a complex area of public policy It sought to analyze the transport sector in all its dimensions, and to provide strategic guidance that tackled the root causes of the identified problems. Many expected that the study's focus would he on projects; yet it was concluded that these almost totally miss the point. Instead it was found that the imperative is to implement institutional and policy reforms. These are expected to materially increase sector funding on a permanent basis; deliver a pipeline of good projects for implementation; and provide the foundation for a sustainable transport policy, which will meet government's clearly stated national aspirations. From the recommendations, PTSS developed a Draft Transport Policy Statement, and recommended that it should be owned by government, so that for the first time govern¬ment adopts a meaningful transport policy. Then, actions can be evaluated against that policy statement. Government is currently developing an action program, which it will own, identi¬fying the key actions and agency responsibilities for implementation. The Bank is preparing a Project Preparatory Technical Assistance for the Philippines that will assist government restructure its institutions, reform its key policies, and identify a loan to extend this assistance into the next development plan period. In conclusion, it is interesting to consider whether and to what extent the approach developed in the Philippines may be transferable elsewhere. It is the authors' experience that the underlying problems facing the Philippines exist in many developing countries, and it is our judgment that the key elements of the approach described here are indeed applicable.