PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday inaugurated the P430.3 million Balingoan Port expansion project in Misamis Oriental, which he expects to boost tourism and business in the province and the Northern Mindanao region.
“We cannot deny the expected contributions of Balingoan Port in your province, as well as neighboring provinces. This will pave the way for the fast and smooth flow of products and people, which would boost business and tourism in your province, neighboring provinces and the whole region,” Marcos said in Tagalog during the event.
He said Balingoan Port is the primary gateway to and from Camiguin island, which is a premier tourist destination known for its volcanic landscapes, white sand beaches, sweet lanzones fruit and lush interior forests.
Located some 84 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro City, it also serves as a vital transport and economic hub connecting Northern Mindanao, not just with Camiguin but also with Bohol.
The president said the port expansion project, undertaken under the Build Better More program, is part of the government’s effort to build infrastructures aimed at improving public convenience, comfort, security and general progress.
“This is just one of our projects to modernize ports in the country,” he said.
The 3,082.50 square meters Balingoan Port can accommodate up to 500 seated passengers — over a three-fold increase from its previous capacity of 150 — and features modern passenger lounge areas, gender-inclusive restrooms, childcare and play areas, food concession spaces, and prayer rooms.
The expansion project added a 10,832-square meter backup area for cargo handling, storage and logistical operations, and additional roll-on/roll-off ramps which can now berth up to five to six RoRo vessels simultaneously.
A gate complex is still being constructed to address security and traffic flow within the port premises.
During the event, Marcos unveiled the marker of the terminal building upon arriving at the port and conducted a tour of the facility with Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago.
Marcos assured the province of the national government’s assistance in the maintenance of the port, even as he encouraged the local government to take proper care of the facility to guarantee the safe and convenient travel of passengers.
In 2024, the Balingoan port recorded more than 6,102 ship calls and 671,000 passenger traffic.
