MISAMIS ORIENTAL — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. heads to Northern Mindanao on Tuesday for a full day of engagements that will take him to Misamis Oriental and its capital, Cagayan de Oro City.

The President will be the guest of honor at the inauguration of the Balingoan Port expansion, as well as the launch and turnover of the province’s new integrated coconut processing facility. He will also award up-scaled rural development projects in the town of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia said.

“This is a huge honor for us,” said Unabia, adding that the visit highlights the importance of these projects not just for Misamis Oriental, but for the region.

The expansion of Balingoan Port is a key development, Unabia noted, as the provincial government is working with the Maritime Industry Authority to open new missionary routes to Bohol and other parts of the Visayas. These routes would allow for increased trade and transport of local goods, while easing congestion at the busy Cagayan de Oro Port in Macabalan.

In support of the port’s operations, post-harvest facilities are also in the works as a way to create jobs and boost local industries.

In Balingasag, the President will visit the integrated coconut processing facility, a joint project of the province and the First Community Cooperative. The visit will spotlight a P69.7-million rice post-harvest facility under the Rural Development Project, which includes a guaranteed palay buying price of P20 per kilo to help local farmers earn more from their harvests.

“The President’s visit gives us a chance to show him the potential of Balingasag as an agricultural hub. With the expanded Balingoan Port, we’ll be ready to ship our goods to Bohol, Leyte, Cebu and other areas,” Unabia said.

In Cagayan de Oro CIty, Marcos will lead the ceremonial turnover of 93 patient transport vehicles to various local governments across Northern Mindanao. The event will be held at the Gregorio Pelaez Sports Complex, to be followed by a National Economic and Development Authority meeting at Camp Evangelista in Patag.