President Marcos: Government working to ease logistics cost

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to improve the country’s transport system, create an interconnected road network and build more bridges to lower logistics costs in the country and connect agricultural production areas to ports and businesses.

During last week’s opening of the United Parcel Service (UPS) Clark International Air Hub at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga, President Marcos Jr. stressed the importance of an efficient logistics network to ensure unimpeded movement of critical goods for small and big businesses.

Meanwhile, the President assured the government is in full support of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in strengthening its capabilities and modernizing its assets to efficiently respond to increasing maritime challenges in the country’s shores.

“To every Coast Guardian serving at our ports and stations, aboard our vessels and aircraft, and deployed in communities across our country: Magpakatatag kayo. Nakikita at ramdam namin ang inyong paglilingkod. Taos-puso kayong pinasasalamatan ng sambayanan sa inyong katapatan sa tungkulin,” President Marcos Jr. said during the PCG’s 125th founding anniversary held today. 

According to President Marcos, Jr., PCG has conducted over one million pre-departure inspections of vessels at ports nationwide to help keep the traveling public safe, rescued or pre-evacuated almost 95,000 persons and assisted close to [138,000] individuals during disasters and emergencies, following the sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in Basilan.

PCG personnel also provide much needed assistance to communities recovering from disasters. Following Typhoon Uwan, the Coast Guardians transported family food packs and water desalination [units] from Manila to Catanduanes.