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)

By Benilda Recebido   SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. inspected the country’s seaweed bioreactor facility at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-National Seaweed Technology Development Center (BFAR-NSTDC) in Barangay Cabid-an, Sorsogon City on Monday, July 20. During his visit, the agriculture chief emphasized that the project aligns directly with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s directive to invest heavily in the seaweed sector, which remains one of the country’s top fisheries exports. The newly established bioreactor project is designed to resolve the industry’s chronic shortage of high-quality planting materials. The facility, which began operating in March this year, houses a huge 1,250L photobioreactor system explicitly optimized for macroalgae use. It operates around the clock to generate culture materials without relying on seasonal weather patterns. According to Tiu Laurel, once fully operational, the facility will break away from traditional production constraints. The facility will mass-produce premium planting materials 24 hours a day using advanced cultivation techniques,” he said. “Its production capacity will jump tenfold compared to traditional methods, which are capped at just 10 tons per month, and we target a 95 percent survival and growth rate for distributed seedlings, a massive improvement from the historical 60 percent to 70 percent success rate that often led to wasted labor for farmers,” he added. According to Tiu Laurel, the Philippines has only scratched the surface of its marine potential. “While the local industry currently relies on just five commercially viable seaweed varieties, hundreds of other types remain vastly untapped,” he said. The Sorsogon research facility will use its new machinery to accelerate research and development. Scientists will now have the technology to cross-breed species and develop high-yielding hybrids. Also, the DA plans to expand seaweed utilization beyond food, exploring its high-value applications in pharmaceuticals and industrial sectors, and eventually, to position the Philippines as the global leader in seaweed production. The project operates under the direct supervision of the DA and its attached bureau, the BFAR. Laurel noted that securing high-quality planting materials is the most critical component needed to revitalize local aquaculture. “We are on the way to making our seaweed industry number one in the world,” Laurel stated, affirming the government’s commitment to empowering local seaweed farmers and maximizing the country’s marine economy. (Raiza Lucido contributed to this report/PIA Bicol/Sorsogon)