Badly damaged airports remain on high alert, others resume flights

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Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)-Naga, Cebu Pacific, Office for Transportation Security (OTS), PNP-AVSeU join forces in the clearing operations and restoration of Naga Airport. | Photo from CAAP
  • Typhoon Rolly-damaged airports, particularly those in Bicol, remain on high alert
  • Virac Airport in Catanduanes remains temporarily closed; airports in Bulan, Daet, Legazpi, Masbate, Naga, and Sorsogon on high alert
  • Naga Airport in Camarines Sur resumes flight operations after temporarily closing on Oct 31
  • Ninoy Aquino International Airport to resume operations at 10 a.m. on November 2
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-Naga, Cebu Pacific, Office for Transportation Security, Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group join forces in the clearing operations and restoration of Naga Airport | Photo from CAAP

Airports in areas devastated by Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni) remain on high alert, particularly airports in the Bicol region of Luzon, as some have sustained damages although others have resumed operations, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Virac Airport in Catanduanes, the province where Typhoon Rolly made its first landfall on November 1, has been temporarily closed since October 31 and remains on high alert, CAAP said in an update on November 2.

Also on high alert are the airports in Bulan, Daet, Legazpi, Masbate, Naga, and Sorsogon.

Naga Airport in Camarines Sur has resumed flight operations as of 7:45 a.m. of November 2 after temporarily closing on October 31. The airport’s passenger terminal building (PTB), fire station building, administration building, and the vehicular parking area sustained serious damages as ceilings were dismantled and roofing and window panels were blown away.

CAAP said Naga Airport sustained damages estimated at P5.5 million.

At Bicol International Airport, which is still undergoing construction, damage was only to the glass wall panels at the second floor of the PTB.

Legazpi Airport in Albay also sustained minimal damage to the ceiling of its PTB and to some runway lights. Clearing operations have been done and flight operations commenced at 6:00 a.m. of November 2.

Meanwhile, in Cavite province in Southern Luzon, Sangley Airport reported damages to the glass windows of its hangar, and two spans of old fence collapsed in the general aviation area. CAAP has already released a Notice to Airmen regarding closure of operations until November 2, 2020.

The airports that did not sustain any damages as most were out of Typhoon Rolly’s direct path were Bagbag, Palanan, Cauayan, Tuguegarao, Antique, Masbate, Bacolod-Silay, Caticlan, Iloilo, Kalibo, Roxas, Bantayan, Dumaguete, Bohol-Panglao, Mactan-Cebu, Ubay, Siquijor, Biliran, Borongan, Calbayog, Catarman, Catbalogan, Tacloban, Guiuan, Holongos, Maasin, Ormoc, Butuan, Surigao, Siargao, Tandag and Bislig.

Basco Airport and Itbayat Airport also did not incur damages as Batanes was not under any storm signal warning.

Airports in Romblon, Calapan, Mamburao, Pinamalayan, San Jose, Iba, Plaridel, and Lubang likewise reported finding no damages to structures yet and said facilities and personnel were safe. However, Marinduque airport’s breakwaters at Runway 16 Runway End Safety Area (RESA) collapsed due to storm surges.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, meanwhile, is scheduled to resume operations at 10 a.m. on November 2.

CAAP said airport managers are still on high alert and conducting close monitoring and inspections of their respective airports.

Rolly, which has weakened to a tropical storm as of November 2 is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility in the morning of November 3. The typhoon had been initially upgraded to a super typhoon prior to entering the Philippines and then lowered to a typhoon in November 1 when it started to weaken after landfall.

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