DOTr eyes 2027 completion of Ilocos Norte transport hub

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing ahead with the Ilocos Norte Transport Hub, a multimodal terminal designed to ease traffic and improve commuting in the province by 2027.

Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said the project, located in San Pedro, Laoag City, will feature a 23,577-square-meter hub with multi-level platforms that integrate buses, jeepneys, vans, taxis, and tricycles under one roof. Patterned after the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), the hub aims to streamline passenger transfers and reduce congestion across Laoag’s business districts.

The P1.08-billion project broke ground in February 2024. The first phase was completed later that year, while the second phase is now 80 percent complete as of mid-August. Full completion and operations are targeted by the fourth quarter of 2027.

“By this time, we are expecting a significant rebound of the commuting experience to and from Ilocos Norte,” Pastor said during the 2025 Transportation Forum hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).

The project’s design, led by Palafox Associates, incorporates modern Ilocano architecture and sustainability features, including solar roofing, rainwater harvesting, natural lighting, ventilation, and electric charging stations. It will also integrate retail spaces, government offices, and park areas to serve both commuters and the broader community.

Funding was drawn from the 2022 and 2024 national budgets, amounting to P1.08 billion in total. Once completed, the hub is expected to benefit around 5,000 public transport drivers and operators, alongside thousands of daily commuters.

The provincial government has tasked the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC) to oversee the operations and maintenance of the facility once operational.