2. MRT line 3 full rehabilitation

3. Common Station - Unified Grand Central Station

4. LRT-1 Cavite Extension - Baclaran, Parañaque to Bacoor, Cavite.

5. MRT-7

6. PNR Clark Phase 1 - Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan

7. Metro Manila Subway project - first-ever subway in the country

8. Mindanao Rail project - Tagum-Davao-Digos

^{References:
https://ppp.gov.ph/in_the_news/8-rail-projects-to-start-operations-by-2022/
https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/common-station-march-2021-update-a2578-20210324}

I find this topic very interesting and highly relevant to the present-day society. I have gained a lot of new insights that could be very useful for the restart of tourism and the improvement of the discussed modes of transportation in the country. First, it was my first time to learn about the history of Grab, and it was really fascinating how modernization, technological advancements, and networking  really have built presence and have a significant role in the success and operations of businesses and transportation nowadays. Second, I learned the importance of the availability and improvement of pedestrian lanes, on-road cycling lanes, walking paths, and bike parking rails and facilities. In our small town, Tanza, I was so amazed when I woke up one morning and there were plenty of newly painted pedestrian lanes on the part of the road right in front of our house and in front of nearby convenience stores and dental clinic. As someone who finds it hard to cross the street just to buy something, I find those pedestrian lanes as a source of relief and security, because the public transport in our town typically drives very quickly, particularly the motorcycles. There is also a need for speed humps and streetlights because it is a main road directed to the city capital of Cavite province. Additionally, I really hope that there would be considerations to place traffic lights and signals, and other traffic control devices in the intersection, because whenever you drive there, you should expect to be stuck in traffic for hours. It is such a huge inconvenience. I found this article and realized five years ago with the proposal of traffic lights, but the traffic situation remains the same until now.  (https://www.facebook.com/gocavite/photos/proposed-traffic-light-along-the-intersection-of-tejero-general-trias-caviteisa-/1627836837455456/) 

Personally, the lessons in class made me realize how significant really the management of transportation and the physical environment involved especially in local neighborhoods and small towns. I also understood what factors are necessary to consider an area as a good walking and cycling environment. The factors must consider the buildings involving the transport infrastructure, the residential units, offices, convenience stores, retail businesses, industries, health services, as well as the natural features such as parks and rivers. Another experience before the pandemic that I consider memorable is when my friends and I toured around Intramuros while riding bamboo bikes. It makes me think how great it would be if our town has designated cycle lanes. Furthermore, I miss walking every day to go to classes, and to go back and forth from departments placed in different streets back when I was studying in UP Manila. Though it may seem like a very simple wish, I really hope to experience the same thing, to walk around UP Diliman, to just feel the air and to be physically active while enjoying the lush scenery. Just like mentioned in one of the reading materials, there is really a connection between walking, thinking, and wisdom. And given that walking is the most prevalent form of recreational physical activity in the United States, I was amazed when I learned that UP Diliman offers Walking and Running for Fitness as PE courses.

Moreover, I just recently found out the existence of the Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Mitigation for the Land Transport Sector of the ASEAN Region project which involves the Philippines, and I am also looking forward for more strategies and action plans addressing energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the land transport sectors in the country. Additionally, I was also enlightened with the planned modernization of PUVs which will be compliant to the Philippine National Standards objectives, in consideration to the step height, door widths, and ceiling heights, with expected low flooring, GPS, air conditioner, CCTV camera, and speed limiter. But the process should also have huge considerations to the jobs and employees who will be highly affected like the jeepney drivers and conductors, as well as the impact of modernization to the Philippine culture.  With all that, I would say that the improvement in public transport is also something to look forward to in the post pandemic tourism scenario. Also, I really hope that there are more destinations, urban places, and local communities that will be designed to have good walking and cycling environment, with considerations to vehicle speed.

(Reference: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/us/)

The pandemic has brought about a lot of changes in the world, an example of which is that health protocols such as social distancing must be implemented and followed, to avoid crowds and close contacts that could lead to a covid-19 outbreak in the area. In order to prepare themselves for a successful operation, businesses in the cruise tourism industry should use technology to its advantage by putting bookings and transactions online. This ensures that there is as little contact as possible between people. Those in the food and beverage industry and those that operate spas must make sure that all their employees are fully vaccinated and regularly tested so as not to spread the virus among themselves and to the consumers.

Even after the pandemic, health protocols would still need to be followed, for the cruise industry this means that they would not be able to operate at full capacity, some of their activities must be removed and consumers must be tested, vaccinated, and must abide by the health protocols set by different countries, cities, and establishments. In order to be able to lessen their losses, cruise lines must find a way to increase capacity and at the same time still follow health and safety protocols. 

The recovery of the cruise industry, although it may be slow and steady, is possible. This is especially because of the demand of consumers who would like to engage in cruise tourism again. As long as extra measures for the safety of everyone is implemented and followed, the industry will surely be able to set sail once more.

(Reference: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-03/covid-changed-cruises-cruise-ship-safety-protocols-what-to-know)

Air transportation is essential to the tourism industry. For the tourism industry to be able to recover, airlines must operate with extra precaution and impose health and safety protocols until after the pandemic. Technology is the future of air travel as it would be utilized in order to make sure that the safety of both the passengers and the workers are put first. This may change the low-cost carriers business model as most airlines now have extra services that need to be offered such as QR scanning, near-field communication involving 5G and IoT, biometric facial recognition and thermal scanning technologies in order to ensure the safety of the passengers. Although some of the newer services such as ticketless travel, which decreases the need for complex and expensive ticketing systems, is beneficial for them as they would only need to rely on the internet, the contactless experience needed for security, paying of fees, food ordering, shopping and more, may make their costs go higher, which may cause the prices of the tickets and services they offer to the passengers go higher too. So as not to have extra costs, low-cost carriers may either not use some of those services needing extra fees, which may compromise the safety of the passengers, or they may again charge the passengers for those extra costs. The reason low-cost carriers' business model worked so well before the pandemic is that their airlines had no amenities when you boarded the flight, so they were able to offer lower prices to passengers. An example of a local airline that implements the low-cost carriers business model is Cebu Pacific, as everything is for sale there, causing the passengers to need to pay for the services they want, such as food and baggage. Although the added cost of implementing a more technology driven business may cause an increase in their prices, or the non-implementation of new technology may compromise the safety of the people, low-cost carriers may have the advantage as people are now craving to travel after largely spending the last 2 years at home, and are now willing to travel without glamour, or would be willing to pay a little more for first-class. 

 
References:
https://developers.amadeus.com/blog/low-cost-carrier-business-model-overview
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/022916/economic-analysis-lowcost-airline-industry-luvdal.asp