President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos together with DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez , DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, and PPA GM Jay Santiago, inaugurates the new Port Operations Building at Port of Banago today, December 12, 2025
12 DECEMBER 2025 – The Philippines has taken another step in enhancing its role in global trade and regional shipping networks as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., inaugurated the new Port Operations Building (POB) at the Port of Banago, Negros Occidental, on Friday, December 12, 2025 together with the officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) headed by Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago, local government leaders, and port stakeholders.
Strategically located in Barangay Banago, the port plays a vital role in passenger travel, roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) traffic, and the transport of key commodities such as sugar, rice, and corn, the critical drivers of the local and regional economy. The port also enhances tourism access to nearby destinations like Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary, Patag in Silay City, and Lakawon Island.
In his keynote message, President Marcos emphasized Banago Port’s growing role as a hub of connectivity and progress in the Visayas. Since the economy’s reopening after the pandemic, port activity has surged, with passenger movement surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and 2024, and RoRo traffic rising from over 66,000 vessel calls in 2019 to more than 125,000 in 2024.
Modern facilities for safer, more efficient services
The newly inaugurated POB addresses the increasing demand for safe, efficient, and future-ready port operations in Bacolod. Previously, the port’s operations office also served as a passenger terminal, limiting workspace for PPA personnel and complicating adherence to health and safety standards.
The new facility now provides a modern, dedicated operations center, enabling the existing terminal to serve passengers exclusively. Additional improvements include the widening of the causeway for smoother road access, enhanced vehicular flow, and a covered walkway to shield passengers from inclement weather.
Catalyst for regional growth
The modernization of Banago Port is expected to spur wider economic activity across Negros Occidental. The upgraded infrastructure is poised to create ripple effects in shipping, transport, retail, tourism, and allied industries, strengthening the province’s role as a dynamic economic hub.
PPA General Manager Santiago highlighted the significance of the development, stating: “The inauguration of the Banago Port Operations Building is more than an infrastructure milestone—it is a commitment to world-class service, improved efficiency, and sustainable growth for the people of Negros and the wider Visayas region.”
Together with the ongoing San Carlos Port Improvement Project, Banago’s modernization positions Negros Occidental as a cornerstone of maritime trade, mobility, and tourism in the central Philippines, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to building globally competitive port infrastructure.
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