Round-the-clock construction work for the development of Bicol International Airport (BIA) is set to start this July to meet the target completion date for priority facilities within the year, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Although construction of the airport development project at present is in full swing, construction work will be done 24/7 starting this July, DOTr said in a statement.
As of June 24, construction of landside facilities or Package 2A of the airport development project is already 81% complete. This development is handled by Sunwest Construction and includes the administration building, air traffic control building, crash fire rescue building, and maintenance building.
Package 2B, which covers the construction of the passenger terminal building (PTB) and the runway, is 34% complete. Its project contractor, E.M. Cuerpo, committed to provide additional manpower to finish the priority facilities within the year.
DOTr said the overall completion rate of the BIA project is already at 66.61%.
The BIA project originally started in 1996 (pre-feasibility study), while the Notice to Proceed was issued in July 2009. Construction works for the runway, taxiway, apron and fences, however, were mostly left uncompleted in 2012, and budget was reverted to the national treasury, DOTr noted.
Construction for Package 2A began in 2016 while Package 2B started in 2017.
Hailed as the country’s “Most Scenic Gateway’, BIA will feature the iconic Mayon Volcano as its magnificent backdrop. Once completed, BIA is expected to strategically boost air traffic and tourist arrivals in Albay province and spur regional growth in the Bicol region, making it an economic powerhouse.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the continuous development of transport infrastructure is vital during this time, as the country starts recovering from the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“It can’t be denied that the aviation sector has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. That’s why it is important that we finish the airport at the soonest possible time as this will absolutely give the economy a boost. Gusto ko matapos ‘yan (I want to finish the airport) within the year dahil gusto na natin itong agad na mapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan (so our countrymen can benefit from it right away). … all systems go,” Tugade said.
DOTr assistant secretary for Procurement and Project Implementation Giovanni Lopez said that the expedited construction work for the airport is a way to offset the period of work suspension and unnecessary delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To recall, we have initially targeted to finish the airport by July this year. Unfortunately, we encountered delays that have hampered the early completion of the Bicol International Airport. But, as committed by our contractors, we will work triple time and meet the deadline set by Secretary Tugade by the end of the year. Rest assured that although we are expediting the airport’s completion, we will still follow the allowable budget costs without sacrificing the quality,” Lopez said.
