en.Wedoany.com Reported - The construction progress of the new passenger terminal at Lucena Port in the Philippines has exceeded 90%. The project, costing 153.43 million Philippine pesos, is expected to be completed in August. Located in Barangay Talao-Talao, Lucena City, the port serves domestic passenger and cargo vessels and is funded through the corporate budget allocation of the Philippine Ports Authority.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated during his inspection of the new passenger terminal on July 21 that the government will continue to expand the port to support the growing passenger and cargo demands of the Calabarzon administrative region and neighboring provinces. Marcos noted that as demand for passenger and cargo services continues to rise, Lucena Port requires sustained investment. During his inspection, he remarked that infrastructure investments often reach saturation faster than expected, but this benefits regional commerce, Lucena, Quezon Province, and surrounding ports.

The new passenger terminal features a 1,268.19-square-meter waiting area with 928 seats, along with facilities including ticket counters, dock fee booths, a nursing room, a prayer room, and a 100-kilowatt solar panel system. Lucena Port handles approximately 500,000 passengers annually and serves as a vital gateway connecting Quezon Province on the Luzon mainland to island provinces such as Marinduque, Masbate, and Romblon. The Philippine Ports Authority stated that port modernization is part of the government's infrastructure plan, aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and promoting trade and tourism. The President also emphasized that the terminal upgrade is designed to enhance passenger convenience, particularly providing temporary shelter for travelers when maritime navigation is suspended due to adverse weather conditions.