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9 airport projects in the provinces are set for completion next year at a total cost of close to P1 trillion
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Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista says the projects are aside from 10 regional airports slated for expansion under the public-private partnership scheme
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Bautista said they are “pushing the pedal to the metal to fast-track completion of these big-ticket transport infrastructure projects”
Close to P1 trillion worth of regional airport projects are set to be completed in 2023 while 10 other airports will be upgraded and expanded through public-private partnerships (PPP) scheme, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
The nine ongoing airport projects set to be completed next year include Tuguegarao Airport, San Vicente Airport, Tacloban Airport, Bacolod-Silay International Airport, Catbalogan Airport, Davao International Airport (Francisco Bangoy International Airport), M’lang Airport (Central Mindanao Airport), Sanga-Sanga Airport, and Ozamiz Airport (Labo Airport).
“These projects are all set to be completed by 2023. They have a total project cost of P1 trillion,” Bautista said at the 2022 EJAP Infrastructure Forum, co-presented by PLDT Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
Bautista noted that DOTr is “addressing the air connectivity needs of the Filipinos by increasing airport terminal building capacity and improving airport facilities by applying technology solutions.”
Apart from the ongoing projects, 10 regional airports are planned to be upgraded, expanded, and operated under PPP scheme. These include the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Laguindingan International Airport, Bicol International Airport (BIA), Iloilo International Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, Davao International Airport, Bacolod-Silay International Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Busuanga Airport, and Siargao Airport.
An additional four new regional airports are also set for construction in Dumaguete, Siargao, Zamboanga, and Masbate.
Bautista said they are also “looking at modernizing existing major international gateways”, citing as example the ongoing P207 million airside improvement projects at BIA.
The transport chief said they are also closely monitoring other airport projects, such as San Miguel Corp.’s New Manila International Airport Project and the Cavite provincial government’s Sangley Point International Airport.
On the maritime side, Bautista said on the priority list are the Pasig River Ferry System Project, New Cebu International Container Port, and the Philippine Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Enhancement Project.
Ongoing seaport projects that are seen to “rev up economic development by increasing the transport of goods and services” include Tagudin Port in Ilocos Sur; Pangasinan River Landing Port; Balogo Port in Marinduque; Banate Port in Iloilo; Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte; Unidos Port in Aklan; and Balangonan Port in Davao Occidental.
Bautista said they are “pushing the pedal to the metal to fast-track completion of these big-ticket transport infrastructure projects” in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s directive.
“As we ‘Build Better More’, we aim to reduce travel costs, create domestic trade opportunities, unlock the economic potential of the regions through investments and business stimulation and by facilitating the exchange of goods by integrating them into the local, regional or global value chains,” Bautista said.
