Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given 'initial approval' to a proposal extending the registration validity of newly purchased vehicles from three years to five years, Malaca±ang said Tuesday, as part of efforts to ease the burden on motorists and streamline government transactions.

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the proposal was presented by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez during a meeting with the President in Malaca±ang. Secretary Lopez highlighted the advantages of the proposal, leading to its initial approval by the President. This development will be followed by memoranda issued by the DOTr.

The Palace emphasized that the proposal aims to reduce the frequency of vehicle registration transactions, shorten queues at government offices, and lower compliance costs for motorists, particularly owners of brand-new vehicles.

During the meeting, Secretary Lopez also briefed the President on ongoing improvements in railway operations. These include the rehabilitation of MRT-3 facilities at the Quezon Avenue Station, the continued rollout of cashless payment systems at MRT-3, and plans to introduce cashless payments in LRT-1 and LRT-2 this year. Additionally, Lopez reported on the refurbishment of the remaining Dalian trains to increase MRT-3 capacity.

On major infrastructure projects, partial operations of the North-South Commuter Railway are expected to begin in 2027 for the Valenzuela-to-Malolos segment and in 2028 for the Malolos-to-Clark segment. Partial operations of MRT-7, connecting Quezon City and Bulacan, are also targeted for 2027. Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Subway is scheduled to begin its demo run in 2028, with full operations anticipated by 2033.

The President discussed measures to ensure faster and more comfortable travel, including shorter queues, additional trains, and longer operating hours.