MANILA - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday hailed the Department of Transportation’s new major regional transport projects which the government expects will bring progress to various parts of the country.

The statement comes as he witnessed the signing of contracts for key regional transport projects by the Department of Transportation in a ceremony in Malacanang Palace.

The first contract is the P16.9 billion New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP) in Consolacion, Cebu which is expected to alleviate congestion at the existing Cebu Base Port. A 1,365-meter access road will also be built to connect the new port via a 300-meter offshore bridge. The project, which has been in the pipeline for two decades, will be funded by the Korean Export-Import Bank and is expected to be completed by November 2027.

“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,” the President said.

Also signed is the Expression of Interest between the DOTR and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank, with the latter serving as Transaction Advisor in identifying a qualified operator for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) system. The 35-kilometer Cebu BRT will have 17 kilometers of trunk service, 22 stations, 62 bus stops, four terminals, a depot, and 18 kilometers of feeder services in the north and south of the trunk lines.

The project is seen to provide Cebuanos with a reliable, efficient transport system, accommodating as many as 116,000 passengers daily during its partial operations, which is then expected to increase to 164,000 passengers per day once full operations start.

“Costing over P28 billion, this modern bus network will connect key parts of Cebu City, making daily commuters easier in their commute and more comfortable,” Marcos said.

The DOTR also signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Concession Agreement with Aboitiz InfraCapital for the modernization of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport. The P4.5 Billion project will involve the construction of a new passenger terminal and upgraded facilities, as well as the installment of required and modern aviation equipment, and the development of commercial assets and services. It is seen to increase the airport’s capacity to 3.9 million passengers annually by 2030.

“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.

“This project is expected to generate fifteen million pesos in annual revenue during its first five years, rising to two hundred million a year by the end of the concession period. 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 continued.

The DOTR also entered into an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the conduct of a preliminary analysis and assessment of the New Dumaguete and new Siargao Regional Airports.

According to Marcos, the project is seen to address the problem of limited connectivity in Siargao and Dumaguete.

“Both places face the same challenge: Limited connectivity. So we shall not settle for small fixes. And that is why we are building the new airports in Dumaguete and Siargao. These projects will completely change the way people travel to and from these areas,” he said.

“The New Dumaguete Airport will create more opportunities for students, workers, and businesses while the New Siargao Airport will help support tourism and trade. With the support of the International Finance Corporation, we will ensure that these airports meet global standards. But beyond the technical aspects, what is important is a positive change that they will bring,” he continued.

Marcos said these projects will allow local farmers “to efficiently bring produce to new markets, tourists to discover more of the charms of these islands,  and entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.”