Airport projects to boost tourism in Cebu

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) transport initiatives in the aviation sector in Cebu Province, including the development projects at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will create a platform to boost Cebu Province’s tourism and economic development, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade underscored on Thursday, 28 October 2021.

“What we are doing now in Cebu is creating a platform for a tourism booster,” Secretary Tugade said during the inauguration of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) Corporate Building.

Completed on 21 March 2021, the newly-inaugurated Corporate Building will house MCIAA employees in centralized offices with advanced equipment and facilities. The six-storey facility aims to improve services and accessibility to airport stakeholders.

Secretary Tugade explained that the improvement works at the MCIA, and the improvement and construction of three other airports in the province will propel Cebu Province as a “good place for business.”

“As we improve the existing airport and the terminal, as we add a second runway for the MCIA, we are telling the whole world: “Come to Cebu. It is a place for business.’” Tugade stressed.

Meanwhile, with the rapid pace of the construction of the airport’s secondary runway, Secretary Tugade revealed that partial operations of the second runway may begin before the end of April 2022 to enable MCIA accommodate more aircraft.

Secretary Tugade said that the MCIA also targets to increase its passenger cap from 1,000 passengers to 2,000 passengers to accommodate travelers, returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and Filipino seafarers, in anticipation of the influx of passengers during the Christmas season.

“Ang cap na darating na pasahero dito 1,000. Instead of 1,000, gagawin nating 2,000 passengers. Effective last week, ibinigay natin ang increase in capacity for passengers. Magmamadaling umuwi ang ating mga kababayan at gustung-gusto nilang umuwi sa kanilang mga bahay,” he said.

BANTAYAN, CAMOTES, MEDELLIN AIRPORTS

In awe of Cebu’s tourist gems, Secretary Tugade also said that the DOTr has been pushing for the completion of the Bantayan Airport, adding that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s office committed P150 million to fast track the completion of the gateway, which he said will be operational in April 2022.

“Nakita ‘yung ganda at pakinabang ng paliparan, like a knight in shining armor, kung may pasasalamatan tayo, pasalamatan natin ang Office of Mayor-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte pagkat siya ang nagbigay at naglaan ng pondo nang sa ganoon, mapakinabangan at magamit ang Bantayan Airport sa darating na Abril,” he added.

Secretary Tugade also vowed to oversee the start of construction and completion of the Camotes Airport in the town of San Francisco and Medellin Airport in the town of Medellin.

“Tututukan ko ang pag-umpisa ng airport sa Camotes Island at Medellin. Tatapusin ko ‘yan. Makikipagtulungan ako upang mabigyang buhay ang pag-uumpisa at pagtatapos ng mga airport na ito,” he said.

MCIAA General Manager Julius Neri, Jr., meanwhile, explained that aside from the MCIA, the Bantayan and Camotes Airports are expected to capitalize on the province’s potential by catering to the tourism industry, while the Medellin Airport will serve as an export processing zone in the province.

“So, aside from our airport in Mactan, we will have two airports that will be serving the tourism industry, while the Medellin Airport will have a different purpose—it will be developed into an export processing zone,” GM Neri said.

For his part, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan said the development of MCIA’s second runway will be a huge lift for the city’s tourism industry.

“Malaking tulong ito sa Lapu-Lapu City, with this second runway. You know, Mactan-Cebu International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the Philippines. You know, Lapu-Lapu is a tourism hub, kaya itong development na ito—sigurado ako na maraming mga turista na magpupunta pabalik dito sa aming lugar. Malaking tulong ito sa siyudad namin na Lapu-Lapu,” Mayor Chan said.

DOTr, PPA completes 472 port projects nationwide in a five-year span

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Taking cue from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s order to make the Filipino life convenient and comfortable, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) have completed a total of 472 port projects nationwide in a five-year span, resulting to improved connectivity and mobility in the entire archipelago.

Under the leadership of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, the country’s seaports saw vast and drastic improvements, a far cry from its previous condition—unkempt and in shambles.

“Itong okasyon na ito ay nagpapaalala sa atin, nung kami'y nag-assume ng responsibilidad, ang sabi ng Pangulo sa amin, 'Art, make the Filipino life convenient and comfortable.’,” Secretary Tugade explained during the inaugural ceremonies of the 7 seaports in Bohol Province today, 29 October 2021.

Some notable seaport projects completed by the DOTr and PPA are the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the country’s biggest port PTB to date; Port of Ormoc; Ports of Borac, San Fernando and Bataraza in Palawan; Port of Opol in Misamis Oriental; Port of General Santos; Port of Dumaguete; Port of Currimao in Ilocos Norte; Port of Dumaguete; and Babak Port in Davao Del Norte.

Meanwhile, ongoing big-ticket port projects to be completed before the end of President Duterte’s term include the Port of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro, which can accommodate 3,500 passengers at any given time, and the Port of Zamboanga, which offers a highly-detailed and intricate security system that can accommodate 4,000 passengers at any given time and will surpass the Port of Cagayan de Oro in terms of passenger capacity.

Rounding up the 472 seaport projects are the newly-inaugurated seven expanded and modernized Bohol ports, namely: Maribojoc, Tagbilaran, Jagna, Ubay, Tapal, Loon, and Talibon, which will establish the island province as a catalyst for economic recovery and growth.

With an improved and better seaport system in the country, mobility requirements of the Filipinos have been addressed, Secretary Tugade said.

“Hindi mangyayari ito kung wala tayong liderato mula kay President Duterte na nagbigay ng suporta, inspirasyon, courage and endurance for us to be able to do these projects,” he said.

Apart from addressing mobility and connectivity, the seaports will be of great lift to the shipping industry, fisherfolk, business, agriculture and tourism industries, employment and economic growth in the country.

Making Filipino life comfortable: Bohol to serve as catalyst for economic recovery, growth with development of 7 ports

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

For the first time in the country’s maritime sector history, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, along with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago, simultaneously inaugurated today, 29 October 2021, the seven port development projects in Bohol, which will establish the island province as a catalyst for economic recovery and growth, while fulfilling mobility demands amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOTr and PPA completed the expansion, rehabilitation, and modernization projects of the seven Bohol ports, namely: Maribojoc, Tagbilaran, Jagna, Ubay, Tapal, Loon, and Talibon to prepare the province to handle future mobility and connectivity demands not only in the Visayas region but also to the rest of Mindanao and mainland Luzon.

President Duterte commended the DOTr, under Secretary Tugade and the PPA “for successfully completing the projects that mark another milestone under our Build, Build, Build program.”

“The constructions and repairs done in these ports will allow Bohol to accommodate more people and goods from neighboring provinces and contribute much to the province’s recovery from the pandemic. I am also confident that these ports will strengthen the capacity of Bohol as a catalyst of economic growth in Central Visayas,” President Duterte said.

"All these developments support this administration’s vision to provide our people with improved mobility as well as other comfortable, productive, and dignified life for every Filipino,” the President added.

Secretary Tugade said the the DOTr and PPA took the President’s order to heart.

“Itong okasyon na ito ay nagpapaalala sa atin, nung kami'y nag-assume ng responsibilidad, ang sabi ng Pangulo sa amin, 'Art, make the Filipino life convenient and comfortable.',” Secretary Tugade said.

“Hindi mangyayari ang seremonya na ito kung wala tayong isang liderato na nagbigay ng suporta, inspirasyon, courage and endurance for us to be able to do this project,” Secretary Tugade added.

For his part, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap recognized the support of President Duterte to the province in terms of the development of airports and ports. He likewise thanked Secretary Tugade and General Manager Santiago for ensuring that the projects were properly implemented.

“Mayor, few presidents in the annals of our history can claim the distinction of supporting Bohol in the way that you have…We actually know that what you have given us are not just infrastructure projects. You have, in fact, handed to us a brighter and more promising tomorrow for all Boloanons,” Governor Yap said.

The Bohol port projects form part of the 472 commercial and social-tourism port projects completed by the DOTr and PPA, under the Build, Build, Build program, since the Duterte administration took over in 2016.

“Kayo po ang kadahilanan Mr. President, at sa paggiya ni Sec. Art Tugade kaya nagagawa ng PPA ang ganitong klaseng mga proyekto. Ito po ang aming ambag sa Build, Build, Build program at ito po ay bahagi ng Duterte Legacy,” GM Santiago said.

With restrictions easing up, the DOTr and PPA target to complete additional projects in Tagbilaran, Loon, Getafe, and Jagna Ports by the middle of next year before the end of the term of President Duterte.