THE administration has achieved significant progress in infrastructure development, particularly in energizing power grids of the country, Malacañang said Tuesday.
In 2024, the power grids in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were interconnected through the completion of multiple energy projects.
Under the Marcos administration’s aggressive approach to infrastructure development, the Mariveles-Hermosa-San Jose 500-kiloVolt transmission line was inaugurated in July.
Running from Bataan through Pampanga to Bulacan, the P20.94-billion project strengthened the reliability of the Luzon power grid.
In addition, the Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone project, worth P67.9 billion, was completed in April, stabilizing the power situation and mitigating outages — a perennial problem in Western and Central Visayas.
At the same time, the Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project was fully energized in September, providing enhanced connectivity between Cebu and Bohol.
These projects benefited not only Luzon and the Visayas, but also Mindanao, with the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection activated.
This development marked a “defining moment” for the power sector and the whole country, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during his third State of the Nation Address in July.
The infrastructure links the Mindanao and Visayas grids via Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte and Santander, Cebu, through a 184-circuit-kilometer high-voltage direct cable with a transfer capacity of 450 megawatts.
The implementation of these electric infrastructure will lower the cost of electricity in due course, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.
Mindanao’s longest bridge
Also this year, Marcos inaugurated the Panguil Bay Bridge, the longest water-spanning bridge in Mindanao.
Opened in September 2024, the 3.16-kilometer bridge connects Tangub City in Misamis Occidental to Tubod in Lanao del Norte, providing comfort and convenience to more than 10,000 commuters daily.
The bridge has significantly reduced travel time between the two provinces — from two hours to just seven minutes — marking a major milestone in Philippine infrastructure development.
During the inauguration, Marcos highlighted the bridge’s challenging journey from conception to completion.
The pre-feasibility study began in 1998, but it wasn’t until May 2015 that the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the project.
Construction officially started in February 2020, but progress was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic and budget constraints.
President Marcos recalled how these challenges tested the resolve of project stakeholders.
“When the pandemic hit, the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) had to pause, recalibrate, and revisit strategies. Just as they found ways to move forward, funding issues arose, slowing the project down again,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, the president emphasized perseverance.
“We do not get intimidated or discouraged by obstacles. We worked harder, pushed harder, and never lost sight of why we are building this bridge,” he added.
To ensure its completion, Marcos, as chairman of the NEDA board, approved an additional P650.89 million, increasing the project’s total cost from P7.38 billion to P8.03 billion.
The president underscored the bridge’s far-reaching impact on Mindanao’s economy, particularly for local businesses.
Faster transportation of goods and safer, more convenient travel are expected to spur growth and development in the region.
“The bridge is a gateway to a world where distance no longer limits our dreams, where aspirations can take flight, and where the ambitions of entrepreneurs fuel growth and prosperity,” he said.
The Panguil Bay Bridge was implemented by the DPWH and constructed through a loan agreement with the Korean Export-Import Bank’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund.
It used advanced Korean bridge technology, including an extra-dosed main bridge with a 320-meter central span. A state-of-the-art lighting system ensures safety during nighttime travel.
“The Panguil Bay Bridge stands as a testament to the government’s dedication to the “Build Better More” initiative, signaling a new era of infrastructure development in the Philippines,” the PCO said.
Modernizing transit system
Meanwhile, the PCO said that Marcos also fulfilled his promise to enhance the country’s transportation system by inaugurating the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project (L1CE) Phase 1 on Nov.15.
The extension, which began operations on Nov. 16, introduces five new stations namely: Redemptorist-Aseana, Manila International Airport Road, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, and Dr. Santos (formerly Sucat).
LRT-1 train coaches are seen ferrying passengers in Manila. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA
The new line is the first railway project completed under the Marcos administration. It reduces travel time between Baclaran, Pasay City, and Bacoor, Cavite, from 1 hour and 10 minutes to just 25 minutes, serving 80,000 additional passengers daily.
Phase 1 of the extension adds six kilometers to the existing 20.7-kilometer LRT-1 line, bringing its total length to 26 kilometers.
In his speech, Marcos paid tribute to his father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., for laying the foundation of Metro Manila’s first urban rail transit system.
Despite early criticism, the elder Marcos pushed forward with the project, which has since transformed daily commutes for millions of Filipinos.
The LRT-1 became Southeast Asia’s first urban light rail system.
“No one is happier than his son today, seeing my father’s foresight validated as this system grows to serve more of our people,” the president said.
