Duterte unveils ‘Minda’ DoTr projects

ZAMBOANGA CITY — No less than President Rodrigo Duterte led the inauguration of the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) completed projects in Mindanao, particularly in this city.

The President unveiled the completed DoTr projects in Zamboanga City which include the Busay Port, Sacol Island, Tumalutab Port, Tumalutab Island and the Talusan Port, Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Meantime, at least 13 completed Philippine Ports Authority projects in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces were also inaugurated to include the Maimbung Port, Maimbung: Pandami Port: Kalingalan Caluang Port: Tapul Port: Pangutaran Port, all located in Sulu province. In Tawi-Tawi province — Port of Languyan: Port, Panglima Sugala: Construction of Pierhead, Back-up Area and Passenger Shed in Panglima Sugala: Sapa-Sapa Port and Mapun Port. In Basilan province Lantawan Port and the Diki Port located in Isabela City.

Duterte also visited the Zamboanga City Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), the RC platform and the back-up area inside the Zamboanga City International Port, one of the major projects of Transport department led by Secretary Arthur Tugade.

“I am happy that almost all of the projects are completed, utilized, and the others are about to be finished. I hope that by the end of my term, we can finish all these projects,” said Duterte in his speech.

Once completed, the Zamboanga City PTB will be the largest port passenger terminal in the country, which can accommodate approximately 4,500 passengers at any given time. At present, the PTB of the Ports of Cagayan de Oro and Calapan is the biggest PTB in the country today.

“The completion of these port projects will boost inclusive growth to various industries in the provinces, especially in the shipping, fishing and tourism sectors, also with more employment to be generated to various localities,” Duterte said.

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago, on the other hand, disclosed that the agency has completed 52 port projects in Luzon, 64 port projects in the Visayas, and 27 port projects in Mindanao as part of the 143 social and tourism port projects throughout the country.

The completed port projects have managed to generate 4,000 jobs, and benefitted over 8,000 fisherfolks nationwide.

Once completed, the Zamboanga City PTB will be the largest port passenger terminal in the country, which can accommodate approximately 4,500 passengers at any given time.

Pampanga towns receive needed aid More struggling communities continue to benefit from Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go’s relief efforts as his team distributed assistance in the cities of Angeles and San Fernando, Pampanga to a total of 3,300 beneficiaries including solo parents, vendors and indigents. The senator’s team conducted the distribution of aid at the Angeles City Sports Center and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office in San Fernando City and grouped the beneficiaries into small batches before they handed out meals and masks. They also gave away computer tablets to select recipients and provided new pairs of shoes and bicycles to others. Personnel from DSWD, on the other hand, extended separate financial assistance to help the residents sustain their daily needs.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF SBG