By Charmaine Odong-Pangan
LUCENA CITY, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) urged all stakeholders in the transport sector to work together to expedite the long-awaited modernization of the country’s public transportation system.
“Hinihiling ko ang suporta ng buong industriya upang mapaandar na natin sa lalong madaling panahon ang ating minimithing Modernisasyon ng mga Pampublikong Sasakyan. Titiyakin natin na magiging makatao, magaan, at makatarungan ang pagpapatupad nito. Tulad ng aking binanggit, dapat mataas ang kalidad, matibay, at maghahatid ng pangmatagalang ginhawa sa taumbayan ang lahat ng pampublikong imprastraktura,” President Marcos stated in his address.
In the CALABARZON region, the President himself recently conducted a port inspection at the newly upgraded Lucena Port Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in Lucena City, Quezon along with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) as part of his commitment to modernizing the country’s maritime gateways and improving passenger comfort.
During the inspection, he underscored the need for safe and modern port facilities to provide the commuting public with efficient and reliable transportation services between the CALABARZON region, MIMAROPA, and other nearby island provinces, ensuring a safer, more convenient, and more comfortable travel experience.
“This was necessary to be done because the traffic going to Lucena Port is approximately 500,000 travelers every year kaya’t kailangan talagang i-upgrade na ang ating mga facilities para matulungan ang ating mga traveling public, hindi sila masyadong mahirapan,” the Chief Executive said during the inspection on July 21.
The PTB, built with a P153.43-million investment from the PPA’s corporate budget, is expected to offer safer and more convenient travel for passengers and contribute to strengthening regional connectivity, boosting trade, and driving economic growth in Southern Luzon.
With a capacity of 928 passengers, the upgraded terminal is equipped with modern, safer facilities, including fully air-conditioned waiting areas, automated ticketing machines, an enhanced ventilation system, and 144 solar panels that support energy-efficient and sustainable port operations.
These improvements are designed to meet the growing demand for safe, reliable, and convenient passenger travel, particularly as the PPA’s records show that approximately 500,000 travelers use the Port of Lucena as their gateway each year.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago expressed hopes that more Filipinos will benefit from the improvements of the upgraded Passenger Terminal Buildings (PTBs) as the Marcos administration continues to implement its port terminal modernization agenda.
“We hope na makikita ng mga kababayan natin ito, ma-e-engganyo sila na hindi na sila kumbaga magkakaroon ng agam-agam sa pagbiyahe, sa pagdaan sa ating mga pantalan dahil makikita nila kumportable na ang pagbiyahe, kumbenyente, at kung ano man ang mangyari, matuloy man o hindi matuloy ang kanilang biyahe, sigurado sila, kumpiyansa sila, relax sila, at magaan ang kanilang pagbiyahe dahil maganda ang pasilidad,” Santiago said during the port inspection.
Dating back to 2024, President Marcos inaugurated the Batangas Passenger Terminal Building at the Port of Batangas in Batangas City. Since its inauguration, the facility has continued to enhance tourism connectivity, encourage investments, improve the movement of agricultural goods, and stimulate local economies, underscoring the administration’s commitment to promoting inclusive growth through the modernization of the country’s transport infrastructure.
From its original capacity of 2,500 passengers, the Batangas PTB has been upgraded to accommodate up to 8,000 passengers. The facility can now serve around 12.8 million passengers annually and offers expanded facilities for vehicle traffic, providing improved services that continue to benefit the Filipino public.
Amid the recent surge in fuel prices brought about by the Middle East conflict, the country has felt the impact of the crisis, particularly Filipino commuters who rely on public transportation as a more accessible and affordable means of travel.
The Marcos Jr. administration affirms its focus on enhancing the country’s public transportation system to expand its reach, modernize facilities and its services, and provide more convenient mobility for the Filipino people.
President Marcos stated in his SONA, “Kaya pinagtutuunang mabuti ng Administrasyon ang ating mga tren, mga busways, transport hubs at integrated terminals, at ang pagpapaganda at pagpapalawak ng mga paliparan at pantalan sa buong bansa. Ito ay upang mas malawak at malayo ang naaabot, tumaas ang kapasidad, at maging moderno at mas maginhawa ang serbisyo.”
As one of the country’s major industrial hubs, the CALABARZON region hosts numerous manufacturing zones, industrial parks, and economic zones, making port modernization vital as these facilities play a vital role in facilitating the movement of raw materials, finished goods, and agricultural products while strengthening supply chains and helping decongest Manila-based ports. (COP/PIA CALABARZON)
