Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Inspection of the Benoni Port Operations Building and Inauguration of the Benoni Port Light Craft Landing Station

Thank you, Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez. [Please, magsiupo po tayo.]

Ang ating provincial governor, Provincial Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo; Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo; the Lone District Representative of Camiguin JJ Romualdo; Municipal Mayor of Mahinog Lawrence Tan and other municipal mayors who have joined us this morning; my fellow workers in government; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Maayong adlaw sa inyong tanan. (A good day to all.)

The whole of the rest of the Philippines ay tinatanaw talaga ang kagandahan dito sa Camiguin. Mula sa Mt. Hibok-Hibok at saka ‘yung mga volcanic landscapes hanggang sa hot springs, mga white sandbars ay talagang kitang-kita mo na bagay na bagay talaga sa turismo ang Camiguin.

Kaya nagiging importante itong mga facilities na kagaya nito. Kilala kayo na mas marami pa ang inyong bulkan kaysa sa bayan dito sa Camiguin. Nahanap ko lang ‘yung statistic na ‘yun kanina sabi ko… Alam ko maraming bulkan dito pero hindi ko naman akalain mas marami doon sa bayan ninyo.

Dahil diyan ay marami kayong naging bisita dahil nga sa mga attraction — tourist attraction na nandito. Nakikit natin na Camiguin has become a gem on the Philippine map.

These days, mas marami ang turista, padagdag nang padagdag, lokal at saka galing labas. Dahan-dahan nakikita nila at nababalitaan sa buong mundo kung ano ang mayroon dito sa Camiguin province.

While this has brought great opportunities for the island’s tourism and for your economic growth, it has also placed increasing strain on the Port of Benoni. Dahil talagang sa dami ay medyo ‘yung mga dating facilities ninyo kitang-kita naman na kulang na.

During peak season, may problema hahanap ng boat ticket. Lahat nung mga traveler na naghahanap ng boat ticket nagiging biktima sa mga unauthorized ticket processors o fixer na pinagsasamantalahan ang mga turista at saka mga local na nais na magbiyahe na ligtas at saka maginhawa.

For an island like Camiguin, the importance of a modern and efficient port cannot be overstated.

Because this serves as a vital link that keeps people, goods, services, and therefore opportunities moving— that will enable families to return home, return to their businesses to transport their products, and for fishermen to bring their catch to the market, and tourists to enjoy this destination.

And that is why I directed the Department of Transportation to pursue two priorities.

First, we must eliminate the bottlenecks at our transport hubs so we can welcome more travelers more efficiently, more conveniently, more comfortably

We must modernize our airports and seaports nationwide so that our infrastructure can match the demand of our booming tourist industry.

Today’s inspection of the new Port Operations Building and the inauguration of the Light Craft Landing Station in Benoni Port reflect this commitment that we have made to improving all of our port facilities.

It further strengthens Camiguin’s primary transport link that connects the province to the Port of Jagna in Bohol and the Port of Balingoan in Misamis Oriental.

These facilities will cater to domestic vessels, it will handle rolling cargoes, fuel, and other essential goods that support the daily needs of the people of the province of Camiguin.

Pagdating ng 2030, ang dami na ng pasahero na dadaan dito sa bago nating imprastruktura ay ang projection aabot na sa 950,000. At kasama diyan ang mga sasakyan ay dadami ng 155,491. Ganoon ‘yung ating mga naging projection.

Kaya tayo nag-iinvest ngayon para ‘yung imprastruktura natin ay handa naman sa nagiging demand na ito sa magiging parami ng ating biyahero.

Apart from Benoni, we also continue to develop the Port of Balbagon and the Port of Guinsiliban, ensuring that Camiguin remains connected and accessible to all.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are doing all of these so that our people can have a better passenger experience.

This development means fewer delays, more reliable services for everyone that uses this facility — both our travelers and of course also those who are welcoming them to Camiguin.

It will also improve port operations and that way we help eliminate the opportunities for bad actors, mga fixers, pati smuggling mababawasan dahil ‘yung mga maliliit na barko ay dito na lang, dito na lang sila mag-landing, hindi na kung saan-saan pa.

This Light Craft Landing Station provides a sheltered port for fishermen to dock their boats safely, safeguarding their livelihoods.

Sabi nga ni Cong. JJ lahat ng – pagka may bagyo lalong-lalo hanggang sa Cebu kapag may bagyo dito dinadala ‘yung mga luxury na yachts, ‘yung mga yacht ng mga mayayaman dito dinadala para safe harbor dito. At ngayon na nakikita ko talagang safe harbor. Natural safe harbor ‘to eh. Kaya dito napupunta ang mga private vessels pagka parating ang bagyo.

Sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Camiguin, maaaring ikalawa ang inyong probinsya sa pinakamaliit sa bansa, ngunit, nangunguna naman kayo sa ganda at init ng pagtanggap. [applause]

Gumanda kaagad ‘yung pagdating namin dito. Kailangan JJ you have to find a way to thank all of those schoolchildren. Lahat ng dinaanan naming eskwela walang laman. Nasa daan lahat at may dala pang flag. Please find a way to thank all of the schools for bringing out all the children and alam ninyo naman pagka nakita natin nakangiti ‘yung mga maliliit na bata ay nakangiti ka na rin.

And your warmth and your hospitality have earned the admiration of everyone who has visited this beautiful island.

May first-timer tayo rito si SAP Anton Lagdameo. Ngayon lang daw siya nakarating dito sa Camiguin. Ngayon may kompetensya na ‘yung Davao para sa tourism.

Your government… This administration is committed to complementing these attributes with the infrastructure that you need to bring development to your province.

Wherever your journey may take you, may the Port of Benoni always remain a gateway that welcomes you home, opens new opportunities and does so for generations to come.

Daghang salamat sa inyong tanan. (Thank you all.)

Mabuhay ang Camiguin.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas. [applause]

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