Manila, April 25 -- The Asian Development Bank's (ADB) technical and financial assistance to the country's big-ticket transportation projects is crucial in ensuring their timely completion, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said ADB's assistance helped complete transport projects before the end of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"We derive much confidence in being able to complete these projects with ADB by our side because we need to complete all these projects," he said during the 4th DOTr-ADB coordination meeting.

ADB's investments-approved projects for the DOTr -- worth PHP244.9 billion -- include the modernization and rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino Int...