President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday witnessed the signing of various government infrastructure project agreements for more comfortable travel and better opportunities for Filipinos.

The signed agreements include the construction of the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP) and the Cebu Bus Transit (CBRT) transportation system – both under a Transaction Advisory Services Agreement (TASA).

Also signed were the expansion project of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project Concession Agreement and the construction of new regional airports in Dumaguete and Siargao, both under TASA.

In his speech, President Marcos highlighted the NCICP, a PhP17-billion modern port facility, as a solution to port congestion caused by the tremendous 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,” President Marcos said.

Regarding the CBRT, President Marcos emphasized its potential to provide Cebu residents a reliable and efficient transport system.

The CBRT is a PhP28.78-billion modern bus network project that would connect key parts of Cebu City, making daily commutes easier and more comfortable.

President Marcos also highlighted the significance of the BPIA expansion, a PhP4.53-billion project to be implemented in two phases. This will increase the airport’s capacity from two million to 2.5 million passengers annually by 2026.

By 2030, it is expected to handle almost 3.9 million passengers.

The project is expected to generate PhP15 million in annual revenue during its first five years, increasing to PhP200 million per year by the end of the concession period.

“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,” the President 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 of investors,” he added.

President Marcos witnessed the signing for the construction of the new Dumaguete and Siargao regional airports, which are expected to create more opportunities for students, workers and businesses.

The airports will also boost tourism and trade.

With the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), President Marcos assured the new airports would meet global standards and bring positive changes to residents of the provinces.

The President said the projects will enable farmers to efficiently bring produce to new markets, tourists to discover more the unique charms of Dumaguete and Siargao, and entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.

Before concluding his speech, President Marcos reminded Filipinos that these projects represent not just infrastructure, but the people’s aspiration for “more comfortable travel, better opportunities, and a clearer path towards their goals and dreams.”

“My fellow Filipinos, the future will not simply come to us—we must be the ones to build it. And this is how we will move forward. So, [let’s] together build a better Philippines we can proudly bequeath to our children,” President Marcos said. | PND