His Excellency Lee Sang-hwa, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines; Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin; Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista; honorable local chief executives; friends and partners from the private and development sectors; fellow government workers; ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Ngayong umaga, masaya po akong ibalita na mayroon tayong hatid na napakagandang pamasko sa bawat Pilipino – lalung lalo na sa mga kababayan natin sa Visayas at Mindanao.

Crucial agreements that will help jumpstart the construction of five critical transportation projects will be signed today.

And I thank and congratulate the Department of Transportation under the excellent leadership of Secretary Jimmy; the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; and our private sector partners from Aboitiz InfraCapital, HJ Shipbuilding Corporation, and the International Finance Corporation for making all these happen.

The projects are living proof of what great teamwork between the government, our development partners, and the private sector can accomplish.

With the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, the New Dumaguete Airport, and the New Siargao Airport, we will boost our tourism industry and disperse the fruits of growth and modernization for Filipinos living on these islands.

After more than two decades since its master plan was conceived, we are finally making the New Cebu International Cargo Port a reality. This will establish a robust maritime infrastructure in the country, positioning us as a major trade and logistics hub in Southeast Asia.

And with the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, we are delivering a safer, more secure, more efficient, and climate-friendly transport system to Cebuanos.

All these projects are a major win for the economy, for tourism, for the environment, for the private sector, and most of all, for the Filipino people.

Dahil ang lahat po ng mga ito ay magbibigay ng mas maraming trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan. Mas mataas na kita para sa bawat isa. At higit sa lahat, mas maraming Pilipino ang mai-aangat natin mula sa kahirapan.

On the part of the Department of Finance, be assured that we will continue to act fast on projects so that our people can benefit from them at the soonest possible time.

And we will see to it that every project and every contract undergoes rigorous yet efficient scrutiny to ensure the utmost benefit for the Filipino people.

To our private sector partners, be confident that this administration is the most open as ever for your participation. Because we recognize and trust in your expertise and capability to accelerate our nation’s progress.

And I wish our partners here today fast and unimpeded work for these important projects. We are counting on your expertise to fully maximize their potential to ensure strong and inclusive economic growth.

At sa lahat po ng ating mga kababayan, ang mga proyektong ito ay simula pa lamang. Marami pa po ang darating sa pagbubukas ng 2025.

Because this government is working non-stop to ensure that we are building more and better high-quality infrastructure projects that will connect every island, uplift every community, and ensure no Filipino is left behind. Wala pong maiiwan sa Bagong Pilipinas.

Muli, maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. Mabuhay kayong lahat. At mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!