‘Corruption has no place here,’ Duterte says as he inaugurates P366M in Negros Oriental projects

President Rodrigo Duterte made this declaration on Thursday (March 11) as he inaugurated P366 million worth of airport and seaport improvement projects in Negros Oriental province designed to promote trade and tourism amid the heavy economic loss brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his speech, Duterte gave assurance that his administration remained committed to finishing its infrastructure projects on time and strictly adhering to honesty and integrity.

At least P252 million had been allocated for airport improvements that included apron re-blocking, construction of two taxiways, expansion of the passenger terminal building, runway asphalt overlay and shoulder grade corrections and expansion of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines building.

The projects had increased airport capability to handle bigger aircraft and terminal capacity to 450 from 330 passengers per day.

The President also inaugurated the P114 million Port Operations Building (POB) at the Port of Dumaguete in Dumaguete City.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the POB is a two-story building that would meet the need for closer monitoring of port arrivals and departures. It would also provide a new and modern passenger terminal for travellers headed to nearby islands.

Aside from having the capacity to serve an estimated 500 passengers, the POB also features the Port Integrated Clearing Office, a one-stop-shop intended to expedite the processing of entrance and departure clearances for domestic and foreign vessels and cargoes.

Earlier, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go led the blessing and inauguration of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital’s (NOPH) emergency building and five ambulances.

Go also turned over P4.7 million for the Malasakit Center in NOPH.

TSB