President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnesses (fourth from left) the signing of five infrastructure projects under the Department of Transportation in a ceremony in Malacañang on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. (Screenshot from RTVM Youtube)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday highlighted the future tourism and economic benefits of five infrastructure projects signed during a ceremony in Malacañang.
These projects, all under the Department of Transportation, are the construction of the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP), expression of interest for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) system, public-private partnership agreement for the modernization of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA), and new Dumaguete and Siargao airports.
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In his speech, Marcos noted that the P17-billion NCICP in Consolacion, Cebu will help ease the port congestion caused by the growth of commerce and trade at the existing Cebu Base Port.
“Once completed, this will not only make goods more affordable but will also generate thousands of jobs for our people. Apart from this, it will also create more opportunities for everyone as it will provide increased space for port activities,” he said.
Regarding the CBRT, Marcos emphasized its potential to offer Cebuanos a dependable and efficient transportation system.
The CBRT is a P28.7-billion modern bus network project that will connect key areas of Cebu City.
Furthermore, the president said that the BPIA modernization is projected to increase the airport’s capacity from 2 million to 2.5 million annually by 2026. By 2030, it is expected to serve around 3.9 million passengers.
“This means we can provide seamless travel to a lot of tourists—which translates to more jobs for Boholanos, especially in the hotel and restaurant industries,” Marcos said.
“But more than just the revenue, its true success will be the number of lives that it will change for the better in Bohol. It is a promise to our beloved people that they will be the first to benefit from the continued arrival of tourists and investors,” he added.
Marcos also expressed hope that the new Dumaguete and Siargao regional airports will create more opportunities for students, workers, and businesses.
“These projects shall allow our farmers to efficiently bring produce to new markets, tourists to discover more of the charms of these islands, and entrepreneurs to expand their businesses,” said Marcos.