HER EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO,
HONORABLE MAYOR MICHAEL L. RAMA,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN . . .
Good afternoon to you all.
It is a great honor for me to join Her Excellency President Arroyo and all of you today to witness the soft opening of a very important infrastructure, the Cebu South Coastal Road. This project is part of the Third Phase of the Metro Cebu Development Project, to which the Government of Japan provided 9 billion pesos (18.4 billion yen) funding assistance through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Government of Japan recognizes the role and importance of infrastructure improvement in achieving economic development and raising the living conditions of the people of the Philippines. Particularly, roads provide the principal means of transportation, and we understand that it is essential to develop a road network in metropolitan areas such as Metro Cebu.
The four-lane tunnel road segment marks the completion of the Cebu South Coastal Road and will provide uninterrupted access from the Southern portion of Cebu City to the Central Business District of the city and the airport at Lapulapu City. With this project, the Government of Japan hopes to contribute to Metro Cebu's further development.
In closing, I would like to reaffirm the Government of Japan's commitment to assist the Philippines in its nation-building efforts. I would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the unwavering stance of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Philippine Government in promoting Japan-Philippines relations as we jointly pursue a strategic partnership between our two countries for the future.
Thank you very much.
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Embassy of Japan in the Philippines