President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. graced four major events in Cebu on January 30, 2025.

At about 9 a.m., the President attended the Regional Development Council (RDC) Central Visayas meeting that tackled updates on major infrastructure projects of the national government in Region 7.

The projects include Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT), the new Cebu International Container Port, Consolacion-Liloan Bypass Road, and a fourth bridge that would connect mainland Cebu to Mactan Island as well as to the coastal road and the Metro Cebu Expressway.

Other infrastructure projects discussed are the Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Center in Tagbilaran City, Province of Bohol; the development of the Dumaguete City Airport, upgrade and expansion of Bohol Panglao International Airport and Panglao-Tagbilaran Offshore Bridge Connector, and the development of an airport in Siquijor town, Province of Siquijor.

However, members of the media were not allowed to cover the RDC meeting.

In the afternoon, the President led the opening of the alternate runway at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) .

At 2:30 p.m., the President arrived at the MCIA with Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, and MCIA General Manager Julius Neri for a drive-through at the alternate runway that spanned approximately 2,600 meters, the first-ever alternate parallel runway in the country expected to be in full use in the next months.

The MCIA mulled on rehabilitating the primary or main runway in 2025. The alternate runway is due to serve its purpose.

After completion of the rehabilitation program on the primary runway, it is expected that the airport will be able to serve through two runways.

One runway would serve arriving flights, while the other will be for departing flights.

The President lauded the development on MCIA’s infrastructure.

20th National Convention of Lawyers

The President also graced the 20th National Convention of Lawyers, with approximately 4,000 lawyers from both the government and private sectors in attendance for the biennial event in Cebu City on January 30, 2025.

The convention, scheduled from January 30, 2025 to February 1, 2025, serves as a platform for legal practitioners to engage in discussions on critical legal issues while earning 18 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) units.  

“It also fulfills one of the five (5) required attendances at national or regional conventions for Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) lifetime membership,” a post on Radio TV Malacañang reads. 

“MCLE ensures that lawyers stay updated on legal developments, uphold ethical standards and enhance the quality of legal practice in the country. The convention reaffirms the IBP’s commitment to professional development and continuous advancement of the legal profession in the Philippines,” it added. 

Manifesto of Support 

A manifesto of support was given by officials of local government units (LGUs) in the Visayas regions to the President in his visit to the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

In a lunch with officials, led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the President received the manifesto from mayors in Cebu Island, and at least 10 governors out of 16 provinces in three Visayas regions.

The officials handed over a signed copy of the manifesto of support to the President.

The President finds the gesture of support overwhelming

(with reports from Nikko Sereno, Alan Domingo/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak; Radio TV Malacañang)