A total of P4.6 billion was released to the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) to implement four airport projects under the public-private partnership program.
Almost half of the amount or P2 billion will go to detailed engineering of runways and taxiways for the New Legazpi Airport in Daraga, Albay, said Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad in a statement last week.
The resumption of repairs and maintenance activities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1 will be earmarked P1.64 billion while Tacloban Airport’s terminal building and other ancillary facilities will get P800 million.
The Central Mindanao Airport project in North Cotabato will receive P160 million. The project is meant to help ease the transport of high-value crops in and out of the region.
Puerto Princesa airport development
Meanwhile, the Philippines forged a $71.612-million loan agreement with South Korea for improvement and rehabilitation of the Puerto Princesa Airport in Palawan.
Export-Import Bank of Korea (Kexim) will provide overseas development assistance under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund to finance construction of a new apron and connecting taxiways as well as a passenger terminal building, control tower, administration and operation building, cargo terminal building, rescue and fire fighting building and other support facilities.
The airport’s 2.6-kilometer runway and its strip will also be upgraded and new navigational and traffic control equipment provided.
The agreement was signed by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Kexim chairman Yong Hwan Kim.
The project is aimed at revitalizing transport and trade linkages under the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Area and boosting tourism and economic growth in Puerto Princesa City.
The airport’s operation and management will later be bidded out.
Government is rehabilitating the airport to meet standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
This is the second loan agreement signed this year between Kexim and the Philippine government following the August signing of the $207.88-million loan agreement for the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II of the National Irrigation Administration.
Photo courtesy of http://daraga-albay.org/map%20lightbox/mapofdaraga.html
