Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista; Export-Import Bank of Korea Chairman and President Mr. Yoon Hee Sung; Officials from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea; Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria; Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo; Bacong Mayor Lenin Alviola; fellow government workers; ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Let me begin by thanking the people and the Government of South Korea for the long-standing friendship and alliance in our shared journey of nation-building.

If there’s a single trait that binds the Philippines and South Korea, it is our shared commitment to stand by each other—arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder—as we pursue peace and prosperity.

Filipinos fought side by side with South Koreans to defend your national security during the Korean War in 1950s. And today, South Korea stands with us, lending a hand to achieve economic security for Filipinos through game-changing infrastructure projects.

And one of the most recent testaments to our strong partnership is the 3-billion US dollar Economic Development Promotion Facility we have signed today.

This agreement serves as an additional financial bridge that will fill the gaps in realizing our ambitious Build Better More Program.

We are also grateful for South Korea for financing the construction of the new Dumaguete Airport in Negros Oriental, Central Visayas.

This project is not just timely but is emblematic of our enduring friendship.

Dumaguete has long looked up to South Korea as its elder sibling, especially since establishing a sister city agreement with Yeongdong-gun in 2009.

The new airport will undoubtedly strengthen this sisterhood and serve as a gateway of opportunity for both cities to deepen this agreement through boosting culture, tourism, trade, and student exchange programs.

On a broader scale, the new airport will enhance our capacity to welcome a surge of tourists in the post-pandemic era.

Negros Oriental, in particular, is home to many wonders, like the famous Apo Island and some of the best scuba diving spots in the country—all of which, I’m sure, are part of South Koreans’ travel bucket lists. That is why you have been the Philippines’ top tourist arrivals.

Thus, the necessity for a bigger and more modern airport is undeniable, especially considering that Negros Oriental currently has only one major airport.

With the new Dumaguete airport, we anticipate accommodating up to 2.5 million passengers per year, up from just 800,000. From serving limited domestic flights, we can now open the door to international routes.

And who knows? This new airport might just turn Dumaguete into a key destination for your K-dramas, which I’m sure Filipinos—your number one fans—would really love to see.

And it’s not just Dumaguete we are focusing on. We are ambitiously upgrading regional airports nationwide to ensure that the fruits of growth and modernization reach every island in our archipelago. We are making sure that no destination is left behind.

And this is just the beginning. The facility we have signed today with South Korea will enable us to deliver more infrastructure projects nationwide, from roads and bridges to disaster risk reduction efforts.

These projects not only enhance mobility but improve the lives of Filipinos by creating more jobs and businesses, boosting incomes, uplifting lives, and reducing poverty.

I have full confidence that Secretary Bautista will ensure the timely completion of the projects supported by this facility so we can fully enjoy their benefits at the soonest possible time.

On the part of the Department of Finance, we stand ready to support the implementing agencies to ensure the projects’ uninterrupted funding and delivery. We will also see to it that we monitor and personally visit the projects to ensure their timely completion.

And to the Government of South Korea, on behalf of the Filipino people, we thank you once again for helping drive the Philippines’ progress through robust infrastructure development.

These strategic investments that you are generously supporting will certainly underpin all our efforts to build an economy that is truly inclusive for our people—one that secures the future of every Filipino child.

Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat ng inyong tulong at suporta. Mabuhay kayong lahat. Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas.