Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11) — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants improvements in sea and air travel as he ordered the crafting of a maritime industry plan and focused monitoring of upgrade and development of airports, a Palace official said on Tuesday.
Cheloy Garafil, Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge, said the Department of Transportation laid out its programs for the two sectors at a Cabinet meeting that tackled economic recovery and job generation.
“Inutusan ni Pangulong Marcos ang pagbuo ng isang Maritime Industry Development Plan upang mapaunlad at mapalawig ang industriya ng maritime…,” said Garafil.
[Translation: President Marcos gave the order to create a Maritime Industry Development Plan to improve and expand the maritime and aviation sector.]
Garafil said Marcos ordered the improvement of ports to service cruise ships and boost the tourism industry.
The president also directed the Maritime Industry Authority to address schools that fall short of international standards.
“Sinabi ng Pangulo, dapat i-upgrade ang competencies ng mga eskwelahan at ayusin ang training programs to give the students advantage and put them to international standards para mapatuloy ang estado ng bansa na number one supplier ng seafarers sa buong mundo,” said Garafil.
[Translation: The President said the competencies of schools and training programs must be upgraded to give students an advantage, put them at par with the international standards, and so that the country can remain as the top supplier of seafarers worldwide.]
Meanwhile, Marcos said efforts should be taken to upgrade airports.
“Inutusan ng Pangulo ang DOTr na tutukan ang pag-upgrade ng Manila airport upang matugunan ang lumalaking demand, kasama din diyan ang pag-aaral sa mga existing unsolicited proposals para i-modernize ang mga existing airports at i-upgrade ito at magtayo ng mga bagong airports sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa bansa,” she said.
[Translation: The president directed DOTr to focus on upgrading the Manila airport to address rising demand, including looking at existing unsolicited proposals to modernize and upgrade existing airports, and to build new airports in other places in the country.]
The Department of Transportation earlier said there are plans to build more airports under the Marcos administration, particularly in Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Masbate, and Bukidnon.
