PH ADOPTS MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON FUTURE ROAD TRANSPORT AT THE 25th WORLD ROAD CONGRESS

The World Road Congress, which featured the theme ���Roads and Mobility-Creating New Value from Transport���, provided a global forum for Ministers and Vice-Ministers from 40 countries and over 3000 road transport policy makers, to exchange views on the important role of road transport in advancing the economic and social development of countries and to discuss possible solutions in addressing major issues in road transport such as the development of multi-modal transport systems utilizing new technologies, sustainable financing for road infrastructure projects,adaptation of transport infrastructure to climate change, mitigation of traffic congestion and efficient traffic management through an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and reduction of vehicle pollutant emissions.

In his welcome remarks during the Opening Ceremony, the Honorable Il-Ho Yoo, Korea���s Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, emphasized that even though each country has a unique road transport system, the international community is faced with the common challenge of establishing a sustainable multi-modal transport system. Minister Yoo cited the need for the international community to set future directions for a sustainable transport system and to create new value from road transport in the form of energy saving and eco-friendly solutions.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Oscar De Buen Richkarday, President of the World Road Association, hailed the invaluable contribution of transportation experts to economic development and called for continued efforts to develop new technologies to improve road transport.

The Opening Ceremony was followed by technical sessions focusing on the topics of latestS&T trends in road transport, adaptation of road transport to climate change and extreme events, financing and the vital role of road transport in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. During the Session on ���Promising New Technologies for the Future��� DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson called for the further development of new technologies in road transportto assist countries in coping with the impact of climate change.

Since its inception in Paris in 1908, the World Road Congress has been held every four years in different cities around the world to find solutions to global challenges facing road transport.