The construction of an international cruise ship terminal (ICST) here, the first in Luzon, is being anticipated to go on full swing after a formal groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site on Tuesday, led by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar.
The terminal buildings and other facilities will be built at the cost of PHP920 million.
The first phase of the civil works includes the still ongoing construction of the rock causeway and reclamation of a portion of the Legazpi City Boulevard and Albay Gulf.
Aside from Villar, also present during the ceremony were Legazpi Mayor Noel Rosal, Albay Second District Rep. Joey Salceda, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., and DPWH-Bicol regional director Virgilio Eduarte.
In an interview on Wednesday, Eduarte said the ICST is a world-class travel facility that is being considered as a mega tourism project seen to contribute to the enhancement of the tourism industry in Central Philippines.
He said the project will spur economic activities not only in Albay but in the Bicol Region and contribute to the national goal for poverty alleviation by providing opportunities that would attract more investment and generate employment.
“The 284.69 meter rock causeway and the 10,200 square meter reclamation works of the project are already 65 percent complete, located between the panoramic Albay Gulf and the majestic Mt. Mayon,” Eduarte noted.
He said the other civil works of the project include the construction of pier, and lighting and navigation systems.
The national government has released an initial budget of PHP150 million out of the PHP920 million total project cost, Eduarte said.
Rosal, in a separate interview, said the ICST project is another welcome addition to the infrastructure development that will uplift Legazpi’s tourism industry by boosting the arrivals from different countries in the world.
“The project includes the construction of seaport that can accommodate a 300-meter long tourism cruise ship which is the standard size of international cruise ships,” he said.
He said once the project is operational, Legazpi will be the second city after Tagbilaran in Bohol to have an international passenger cruise ship terminal in the country.
The ICST is expected to attract more tourists because of its strategic location as it offers a perfect view of the majestic, cone-shaped Mayon Volcano.
Meanwhile, Villar, during the groundbreaking rites, said, “Under the Build, Build, Build program of the Duterte administration, this is what he wants to have more development, particularly in the provinces. Albay as a province is one of the most progressive provinces in the country and deserves major investments in infrastructure”.
Salceda noted that that during Villar’s term as head of DPWH, the poverty rate has gone down.
“From an average of 23 to only 15.4 in the latest family income expenditure survey, there is no other explanation but infrastructure. Infrastructure creates jobs, business opportunities and eases the cost of doing business,” the lawmaker said.
Villar, after the groundbreaking ceremony, also attended the inauguration of the 3.5-kilometer Camalig bypass road that aims to provide the public safe, convenient, and faster travel.
Source: Philippines News Agency
