NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan; DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan; Mr. Scott Morris, ADB Vice President for East and Southeast Asia; Mr. Winfried Wicklein, ADB Director General for Southeast Asia Department; Mr. Pavit Ramachandran, ADB Philippine Country Director; senior officials of local government units: Good afternoon.

On behalf of the Philippine Government, I extend our deepest gratitude to the Asian Development Bank for another crucial development project for the Filipino people.

Every financing agreement secured with the ADB reflects the strong confidence that the Bank has in the Philippines and its commitment to uplifting the lives of more Filipinos.

We, in the Department of Finance, take the responsibility over our people’s money very seriously. Dahil bawat piso na ipinagkatiwala ng Pilipino sa atin ay simbolo ng milyong-milyong pangarap, pagsisikap, at pag-asa.

And that is why we are here today—to make sure that every peso from our taxpayers is prudently used for projects that stand the test of time and create lasting impact for generations.

And in this mission, we are fortunate to have trusted partners like the ADB.

The ADB, I would say, is the Philippines’ best friend in development. It is a true partner to the Filipino people, who understands exactly what we need to grow sustainably.

Our latest cooperation—the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project—is a perfect example of a strategic infrastructure investment that does not only address our immediate needs but recurring, deeply embedded challenges as well.

This project does more than alleviate traffic congestion in Laguna and nearby areas. It provides a crucial lifeline to flood-vulnerable communities surrounding Laguna Lake.

At the heart of this project is the Marcos Jr. administration’s commitment to climate resilience. And we know too well the importance of projects like this given the string of destructive typhoons we experienced in the past few months alone.

This project will certainly boost economic opportunities for Filipinos in Laguna—our largest provincial economy. It strengthens Laguna’s position as one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the country, accelerating progress for the entire CALABARZON region.

We aim to replicate this project all over the Philippines, especially in flood-prone provinces. For climate-resilient road network infrastructure is not just a luxury, but a necessity to secure a better and more sustainable future for Filipinos.

I trust that under the competent leadership of Secretary Manuel Bonoan, the Department of Public Works and Highways will ensure the swift implementation of this project so that our people can experience its benefits at the soonest possible time.

Once again, I thank the ADB for being a very dependable ally in turning the promise of Bagong Pilipinas into a reality within reach of every Filipino.

Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay kayong lahat at mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas.