Supports Infrastructure Development Plans in Cebu to Enhance Logistics Hub Bid by Marcos
Ferdy's Fresh Take:
Marcos, the president, asserted his backing for a series of logistics-focused infrastructure projects intended to put Cebu on the map as a major hub in the Philippines. During a local rally on May 5, 2025, he expressed hopes that these projects, including new bridges and roads, would cut travel time between Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Cebu Port area from a congested 45 minutes to a breeze-through 20 minutes.
These projects, which also encompass the fourth Mactan-Cebu Bridge and the Mandaue City Coastal Road, are slated to alleviate the bottlenecks on major city roads, reducing traffic woes. The President pointed towards the ongoing development of the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP)—a 25-hectare facility in Consolacion—as integral to logistics streamlining in Central Visayas.
Amid occasionally stalled progress and delays, the P16-billion NCICP project broke ground in February 2025, with Marcos expressing confidence that Cebu's lean bureaucracy would expedite the rollout of national infrastructure projects. He credits Cebu's effective local governance as the key to its readiness as a partner in national initiatives.
Marcos, acknowledging Gov. Gwen Garcia's leadership, noted Cebu's unified political landscape and its economic strength, which he likened to the driving force behind Central Visayas' economy. The President also acknowledged Garcia's contributions to Cebu's growth in gross domestic product and lowering the province's unemployment rate.
Marcos had high words for the Capitol's rice subsidy program, a P20-per-kilo scheme that utilizes technology-driven accessibility. The governor had suspended the program temporarily pending clarification on election-related regulations. He opined the innovative program could serve as a blueprint for other provinces to follow.
In the grander scheme, Cebu's push to emerge as a significant logistics hub hinges on strategic infrastructure projects bolstered by recent presidential endorsements and private sector initiatives. Key projects include the Cebu International Container Port, advancements in supply chain ecosystems, and digital infrastructure modernization. Though financial specifics remain undisclosed, the national government and private entities like PLDT are expected to collaborate on funding these ambitious projects. With the convergence of physical and digital infrastructure, Cebu aims to solidify its standing as the logistics heart of the Visayas by the late 2020s.
- President Marcos expressed his support for infrastructure projects in Cebu that aim to transform the city into a major logistics hub by 2023, including new bridges, roads, and the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP).
- To alleviate traffic congestion, the upcoming projects involve the fourth Mactan-Cebu Bridge and the Mandaue City Coastal Road, aiming to streamline logistics in Central Visayas.
- Amid delays and occasional stalls, the P16-billion NCICP project has begun construction in February 2025, with President Marcos expressing faith in Cebu's efficient bureaucracy for swift infrastructure development.
- In praise of Cebu's leadership, President Marcos highlighted Governor Gwen Garcia's unified political landscape, economic strength, and contributions to the province's growth in GDP and lower unemployment rate.
- President Marcos commended the Capitol's rice subsidy program, a technologically advanced scheme, which despite a temporary suspension for clarification on election-related regulations, could potentially serve as a model for other provinces.
