President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, led the inauguration of the upgraded port of Dumaguete and the newly-developed Dumaguete airport on Thursday, March 11.
According to Secretary Tugade, the two transport infrastructure projects aim to further enhance mobility and connectivity in the province, as a continuing fulfillment of President Duterte’s aspiration to provide a comfortable and convenient life to Filipinos.
“Mahal ng ating Pangulo ang Dumaguete – the ‘City of the Gentle People.’ Nakita n’yo, dalawang proyekto [ang mayroon] tayo dito,” Secretary Tugade said.
“Kung mayroon tayong pasilidad na maayos, kung mayroon tayong pasilidad na binabago upang maging convenient at kumportable ‘yung mga mamamayan [at] ‘yung mga turistang namamasyal dito sa Dumaguete, hindi po ba’t napakagandang regalo ‘yan? Hindi po ba’t napakaganda na maliban sa isang regalo, dalawang regalo? Mayroon ka nang panghimpapawid, mayroon ka pang pandagat,” the transportation chief added.
In his speech, President Duterte commended the diligence and determination of Secretary Tugade that led to the back-to-back inauguration of the transport infrastructure projects in Dumaguete City, as well as the implementation of various development projects throughout the country that seek to address the need to spur growth in the regions.
“Ang kugi sa tao, gisabayan sa iyang utok [His hard work is accompanied by his intellect],” President Duterte said in his keynote address at the Dumaguete airport event.
“Lahat dito, airports pati ports natin magaganda sa panahon ngayon. He [Secretary Tugade] was able to improve. Cebu has a splendid airport, and other ports, maliit o malaki, napaganda niya. I’m just saying na ganoon ka-talented ang taong ito,” the President also recalled during his speech at the Dumaguete port event.
As soon as President Duterte landed in the Dumaguete (Sibulan) airport, the development projects at the said gateway were immediately inaugurated. The improvements include the re-blocking of the apron, construction of two taxiways, expansion of the existing passenger terminal building, runway asphalt overlay and shoulder grade correction, and the expansion of the CAAP Administrative Building.
The improvements at the airport, which serves the province of Negros Oriental and the neighboring Siquijor island, have upgraded the airport’s capability to accommodate heavier aircraft and increased the terminal’s passenger capacity from 330 to 450.
“From a previous floor area of 1,152 square meters, the passenger terminal building now has an expanded size of 1,842 square meters. Under the Duterte administration, Dumaguete airport also became capable of accommodating night-time flights,” CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco said.
President Duterte lauded the DOTr and CAAP for the completion of the development projects as he vowed to finish vital infrastructure projects within his term.
“I commend the Department of Transportation and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and all our partners who contributed to the completion of this project despite the sudden lockdown due to the pandemic,” President Duterte said.
“I assure our people that we remain committed to finish all infrastructure projects on time, if possible, within my administration, with the least inconvenience to the public and with the strict adherence to honesty and integrity. Corruption has no place here,” he added.
Meanwhile, to provide efficient and reliable services to sea travelers, the DOTr and the Philippine Ports Authority have upgraded the port of Dumaguete. The project involves the construction of a two-story port operations building that can accommodate around 500 passengers.
With the project’s completion, the need for the proper monitoring of vessel arrivals and departures is addressed, while providing passengers bound to the nearby islands of Siquijor, Cebu, and Bohol with a state-of-the-art passenger terminal building.
President Duterte, during his speech in the second event, likewise recognized the remarkable efforts of the DOTr and the PPA for the completion of yet another vital seaport project.
“Isa sa mga mahigpit na tagubilin ng ating mahal na Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte nang manungkulan tayo sa puwesto noong 2016 ay ang gawing komportable ang buhay ng sambayanang Pilipino. Sa patnubay po ng DOTr, ginawa ng Philippine Ports Authority ang lahat ng makakaya nito upang tuparin ang mandatong ito at siguraduhin ang kaunlaran ay nararamdaman hanggang sa kanayunan,” GM Santiago said. – NWI
