The new passenger terminal building (PTB) of the Tagbilaran Port in Bohol was inaugurated Thursday, April 15, some eight years after the facility was damaged by a strong earthquake.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Sec. Arthur Tugade and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago oversaw the event.

The improvement works, which involves the construction of a new, state-of-the art second PTB ofTagbilaran City’s main seaport, is a vital infrastructure project aimed at providing locals and tourists with more comfortable and convenient sea travel.

The PTB II is expected to greatly augment the passenger capacity of the port. From having a passenger capacity of only 497 via its existing PTB, Tagbilaran Port can now handle 613 more passengers--more than doubling the port’s total passenger capacity to 1,110.

“Nakita ko ang nangyari sa Tagbilaran dahil sa unos at earthquake. Nakakahiya at nakakaawa sa mga tao sa Bohol kung mananatili ang mga imprastrukturang ito na nasira, nabagyo at hindi nagagamit. Tatapusin namin ang mga proyekto sa Bohol before the end of the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (I saw what the typhoon and earthquake did to tagbilaran. It would be embarrassing to the people of Bohol to keep these infrastructures damaged and unable. We will finish the projects in Bohol before the end of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's term)," the DOTr chief said.

The inauguration of PTB II, which was completed in October 2020, was also witnessed by Bohol Governor Arthur Yap as well as other transportation and local officials.

“Pakiusap lang ‘ho, kayo sa local government, pangalagaan ninyo at gamitin nang maayos itong mga proyekto, nang sa ganoon ay marami pa ang makikinabang at mahaba pang panahon na pakikinabangan ang mga proyektong ito (My appeal to you local government officials, please take good care of these projects so they may last and continue to benefit the people)," Tugade said.

For his part, Yap said the province would be more progressive with the help of infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration.

“With COVID-19, doon namin naramdaman kung gaano kalaki ang impact sa services sector. About 200,000 of our people ay nawalan po ng trabaho, tinamaan sila sa income nila. Nakita namin na walang diversity ‘yung economy namin. Kailangang ma-diversify ang economy namin at panahon na para magtayo ng infrastructure where we can expand (COVID-19 made us feel how important the services sector is. About 200,000 of our people lost their jobs and source of income. We saw that our economy lacked diversity. We need to diversify our economy and its about time we build infrastructure where we can expand)," the governor said.