Strategic Logistics Hub Developed in Sugbo (Cebu)
Fresh off his presidential victory, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed One Cebu People's Party in the City of Dumanjug on May 5, 2025.
Marcos voiced his support for the infrastructure-driven plan to elevate Cebu's status as a major logistics hub within the national landscape. He attributed the city's political stability to the One Cebu Party, given its thriving economy.
Marcos projected Cebu's economic growth, touting it as the backbone of Central Visayas' economy.
"Here in Cebu, you're already prepared. Governor Gwen Garcia has already prepared the bureaucracy, the employees of the province, and invited our mayors to move at the same time," Marcos stated.
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Marcos lauded the effective governance in Cebu, which he claimed served as a beacon for various national projects. He placed special emphasis on Garcia's recommendations and advice when formulating program strategies.
Garcia acknowledged the growth in the province's GDP from 2022 to 2023, and the subsequent decline in unemployment rate from 10% to 2%.
Marcos announced Cebu's proposed program to provide 20-million kilograms of subsidized rice using technology and mobile apps to ensure a more accessible distribution to beneficiaries. He expressed his ambition to make this a model for other provinces, as he had pledged a P20 per kilogram rice price during his 2022 campaign.
Cebu was slated to be the pilot area for the trial run of low-cost rice distribution in Central Visayas. Despite legal hurdles from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding the distribution of rice, Cebu was the first to commence the program due to its tailored policies and QR-coded cards.
During his speech, Marcos frequently referred to Garcia as "Mommy Gwen."
Among Marcos's highlighted projects were the reduction of travel time between Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Cebu Port from 45 minutes to 20 minutes, the proposed construction of Mactan-Cebu Bridge connecting Mactan Island to mainland Cebu, and the development of the Coastal Road in Mandaue City to alleviate traffic congestion on major roads in the city. Marcos also emphasized the importance of the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP), a 25-hectare facility located in Consolacion City, which would bolster logistics services in Central Visayas.
"These projects will make Cebu a logistics hub," Marcos confirmed.
The P16 billion NCICP project, currently facing numerous challenges, is slated for construction starting February 7, 2025.
Marcos extolled "Gwen's" administrative skill, stating, "If a governor is too weak, too uninterested, nothing will happen... That's why we found the opposite here-Governor Gwen is smart, hardworking, and kind."
- Marcos expressed his intention to model Cebu's proposed rice distribution program using technology and mobile apps, which aims to provide 20-million kilograms of subsidized rice, on other provinces.
- In his speech, Marcos highlighted the infrastructure-driven projects in Cebu, such as the proposed Mactan-Cebu Bridge, the Coastal Road in Mandaue City, and the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP), which are crucial for making Cebu a major logistics hub.
- Marcos acknowledged the effective governance in Cebu under Governor Gwen Garcia, stating that it serves as a beacon for various national projects and attributed the city's political stability and thriving economy to the One Cebu Party.
- Despite legal hurdles from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding the distribution of rice, Cebu was the first to commence the program due to its tailored policies and QR-coded cards, positioning it as the pilot area for the trial run of low-cost rice distribution in Central Visayas.
- Marcos voiced his support for Garcia's administrative skill, praising her as smart, hardworking, and kind, and attributed the progress and prosperity of Cebu to her leadership.
