Thank you very much to our Transport Secretary, Secretary Jimmy Bautista for his kind introduction.
[Please take your seats.]
Also here with us, is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Speaker Martin Romualdez [applause]; and members of the Diplomatic Corps; the Philippine Port Authority General Manager, Jay Santiago [applause]; Asian Terminal Incorporated President – also that’s your name, I only know him as Yosi Tanco because we exercise together almost every day before the pandemic, so he’s a gym rat like I am, so, thank you for all of this President Eusebio Tanco [applause]; Representative Mario Vittorio Mariño; other members of the House of Representatives who are present with us today; of course, our, the host province of all of this development, and one of the most progressive provinces in the Philippines now, Batangas Governor Dodo Mandanas [applause]; Batangas City Mayor Beverly Rose Dimacuha Mariño [applause]; and the Dubai Port, or DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem [applause]; my fellow workers in government; other distinguished guests; our partners in the private sector; ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!
Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat.
Ako’y nagagalak na nandito tayo ngayon sa progresibong lalawigan ng Batangas para sa inagurasyon ng isang pasilidad na hatid ay ginhawa sa ating mga kababayan.
Simula pa noon, malaki na ang papel ng pantalang ito sa negosyo, turismo, agrikultura, at ekonomiya, hindi lamang sa mga kalapit na rehiyon, kundi sa buong Pilipinas.
With the large volume of trade and passengers that it handles, the port of Batangas is so crucial that economic planners have underscored the importance of the continuous expansion of this major transportation hub to support the country’s economic transformation.
This is because of this port’s multiple strategic roles.
It is a gateway to the nation’s dynamic capital region, a portal to agricultural powerhouses, access point to island tourism paradises, and a receiver of goods that fill and fuel the vibrancy of our economy.
True enough, maximizing the port of Batangas helps in decongesting our Manila ports, causing the dispersal of economic activities to places more than capable of housing entrepreneurial and industrial boom.
Of its many uses, nothing surpasses its success in connecting people, from distant islands and diverse cultures, bringing them together in fruitful and enjoyable interaction that strengthens the national bond and the unity of Filipinos.
This upgraded terminal building can now accommodate 8,000 passengers, which is much larger that what it–compared to its previous capacity of 2,500. This increases the Batangas Port’s annual passenger capacity from four million to 12.8 million.
There’s–there’s also good news for those of you bringing your vehicles to the port. The Port of Batangas passenger terminal building has a multi-level car storage facility that can take on 13,000 vehicles.
Today, we are inaugurating the bigger and the better passenger terminal to fully unlock the potential of the places and the people that this port serves. In so doing, we validate its status, not as a provincial port, but as a port of national significance.
Today’s activity not only–is a reaffirmation of the importance of this Port of Batangas, but as a vote of confidence in the promising and positive future of the entire CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol regions.
Hindi lang ito halimbawa ng Build Better More na programa ng inyong pamahalaan sa inyong rehiyon. Ito ay patunay ng pagmamalasakit natin sa mga gawaing imprastraktura para sa buong bansa.
‘Yung BBM, ginawa na nating Build in Batangas More.
Build Better Maritime facilities din ito.
I was told that this terminal building was designed and built with the passenger’s comfort in mind. It not only features customer care facilities as we had seen in the video but, above all, it includes services that offer compassion, such as prayer rooms, all-gender restrooms, amenities that are friendly to persons-with-disabilities.
Today, we launch a project that will not only open a state-of-the-art facility but also open a great opportunity for the progress of every Filipino.
Tiyak ako na hindi lang maginhawang paglalakbay ang hatid nito, pero mas maraming manlalakbay ang mahihikayat na bumiyahe dahil sa modernong pasilidad tulad na ito.
For this, we have to commend the Philippine Ports Authority and the Department of Transportation for accomplishing together this important project and for delivering what we have promised to the people. Let me also express my gratitude to Asian Terminals Inc. for helping the government achieve this milestone accomplishment.
[applause]
But as we all know, the work does not stop here. It is not the end of this program with the completion of this building.
The true success of our work lies on how we take care of this new terminal and those who will use and pass through these halls.
This is the culture of excellence that we must perform every hour, every day, every week, every month, and every year.
It is my honor though to welcome everyone to the new and expanded Batangas Port Passenger Terminal Building.
And again, I wish everyone a good day and our passengers a safe and comfortable voyage ahead.
Salamat sa inyong lahat. Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!
Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat!
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