CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. credited Bulacan’s strong economic growth for helping drive the country’s record-high 96.9 percent employment rate in 2024.
Speaking at a rally at the Bulacan Sports Complex, he attributed this achievement to the administration’s sustained investments in infrastructure and agriculture.
Bulacan is home to several high-impact infrastructure projects, including the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System.
President Marcos assured Bulakenyos that the first phase of the NSCR, spanning from the City of Malolos to Tutuban in Manila, will be completed in the next four years.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has previously announced a target for partial operation from Malolos to Valenzuela City between 2027 and 2028.
Meanwhile, efforts to fast-track the right-of-way acquisition from Valenzuela City to Tutuban are currently underway.
These developments have attracted private investments in renewable energy, manufacturing, real estate, retail, and agribusiness, boosting local job creation.
The President also cited food security programs like Kadiwa stores that allow farmers and fisherfolk to earn more by selling directly to consumers.
Bulacan’s agriculture continues to grow with initiatives such as the establishment of 37 ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ school gardens, and the allocation of P55 million in farm-to-market road funding.
Among these, the San Ildefonso-San Miguel Bypass Road, which is now 77 percent complete, is expected to open by December 2025.
The road will ease transport of goods from San Ildefonso and San Miguel towns, which are considered as vegetable basket and rice granary of Bulacan, respectively.
President Marcos dedicated Bulacan’s progress to the legacy of the First Philippine Republic, inaugurated at Barasoain Church in Malolos.
He said the province’s growth honors the Filipinos who fought for independence and national pride. (MJSC/SFV-PIA Region 3/Bulacan)
