Thank you to the DPWH Secretary, Secretary Manny Bonoan. [Please take your seats.]

Special Assistant to the President Secretary Anton Lagdameo; Cabinet members who are here today; our Governor, Zamboanga Sibugay Governor, Governor Ann Hofer.

Baka nahalata ninyo noong pag-akyat namin sa stage kaming tatlo ni Secretary Lagdameo, ni Gov. Ann, at saka ako ay panay ang kuwentuhan dahil we were classmates in the 14th Congress. [applause] Matagal na kaming magkakilala kaya naman sa ating palagay ay makakatulong ‘yan para ‘yung ating mga project at lahat na ay mas madali na ilapit ngayon sa Malacañang ang mga kailangan dito sa Zamboanga Sibugay. [applause]

Of course, our ADB partners, our partners in development for many decades now and without whom we would not have many of the facilities, much of the infrastructure that has been put up in the last few decades, our partners, ADB, and they are here and here is the country director, Pavit Ramachandran; the other distinguished guests who are here with us today; ladies and gentlemen, maayong buntag. Buenos dias. Assalamualaikum. Magandang umaga po. [applause]

After four years since it started, finally we are here to open the three core projects that have originally formed the backbone of the IGCMRSP.

I would like to note that these projects have expanded from their original scope to include additional road and bridge developments across the Zamboanga Peninsula out to Tawi-Tawi.

As the rest of these structures reach completion, they embody the promise and commitment of the government to push infrastructure development beyond our metropolitan areas.

The benefits that the IGCMRSP bring are tremendous and these will come not only, as we open this interconnecting road but also we will continue to reap the benefits of this construction for many, many, many years to come.

It will not only significantly expand the BIMP-EAGA road network through improved physical connectivity.

Alam niyo po ‘yung BIMP-EAGA, ang magkasama diyan ay ang Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia. Kaya BIMP – Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, at saka ang Pilipinas.

At ang aming ginagawa, the reason that the BIMP-EAGA is important, nakikita natin, naririnig natin na lahat ng — sa ilan sa mga problema na hinaharap ng mga ekonomiya, hindi lang tayo sa Pilipinas, kung hindi ang mga ekonomiya sa buong mundo ay ‘yung tinatawag na supply chain problems.

Kaya ang ASEAN at saka lalo na ang aggrupation ng BIMP-EAGA ay pinagsama-sama natin upang gawin ang connectivity ng ating mga kalsada, ‘yung ating paglipat ng produkto, ating pag-transport ng mga tao.

Ito po ay ang ating pinapaganda para naman ‘yung mga problemang naranasan natin at nararanasan pa rin natin hanggang ngayon ay dahan-dahan matutugunan at mabibigyan ng solusyon para naman lahat ng ating bilihin, unang-una ay mas madaling dumating sa palengke, mula sa mga magsasaka at ang mga serbisyo ay malapit, madaling puntahan at mayroon din security element ‘yan dahil hindi po — pagka nagkaroon ng development dito at magkaroon na ng mga negosyo rito, magkaroon na ng mga iba’t ibang establishment na MSME ay makikita natin ay hindi na siguro kailangan maging — na nakabantay lagi dahil nabibigyan naman natin ng karagdagan trabaho lahat ng mga kababayan natin, lalong lalo na dito sa Zamboanga Sibugay. [applause]

It will also amplify the effects of our economic and peace and order initiatives here in Mindanao.

So we once again, express our gratitude to the Asian Development Bank for their support to this pivotal endeavor and for the many others that they are undertaking here in the Philippines.

Thank you for being a steadfast and long-standing partner in improving our critical infrastructure. Your support has been instrumental in propelling our nation forward in this path of development.

We eagerly anticipate and hope for our continued collaboration in future projects to fuel our nation’s progress in the years to come.

Alam niyo po ang ADB matagal na po sila, mula noong inilipat ang ADB, itinayo ang ADB dito sa Pilipinas at ang headquarters ng Asian Development Bank napunta rito noong panahon ng aking ama.

Kaya naman sila’y naging talagang napakahalaga na partner ng Pilipinas at sa kasalukuyan, presently, we were going through the list of projects that ADB is supporting nationwide, at saka ito, walang maliliit ito, puro malalaking proyekto ito. Nationwide, they are involved in 21 different infrastructure projects around the Philippines kaya talagang masasabi natin na sila ay talagang kaibigan ng Pilipinas. Maraming salamat sa ADB. [applause]

Improved physical connectivity will always be a vital facet of our development efforts, as outlined in this administration’s Philippine Development Plan [2023-2028] and the 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda.

That’s why this government is more determined than ever to pursue projects that will recognize our dream of a stronger and more interconnected Philippines.

We will continue to build roads, bridges, ports, and airports all over the country so we can bring Filipinos closer together.

So, let us build upon this achievement as we continue the unending work of building structures that will bring a better life and an invigorating future for all our fellow Filipinos.

Daghang salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat! [applause]

(Thank you very much and long live all of us!)

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SOURCE: PCO-PND (Presidential News Desk)