Aquino Government unveils 5 year airport plans

Costing 60 Billion Pesos

October 7, 2011

Transportation Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II unveiled Thursday a five-year airport-infrastructure plan estimated to cost  P60-billion ($1.6 billion US Dollars) design to rehabilitate, upgrade and modernize the country’s major airports nationwide.

Among the infrastructure plan is the completion of the P7.8 billion Laguindingan airport which is expected to open in 2013; followed by the 3.2 billion Daraga Airport to open in 2014 and the P8 billion Bohol airport to open in 2016. 

Speaking before the Makati Business Club (MBC), The Secretary said that the Aquino government  will put 12.4 billion pesos for Clark International Airport to transform it as premier gateway of the country together with the construction of 108 billion Naia-Clark Express Rail Link dubbed as the New North Rail Project (Northrail) to be funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The High-speed NorthRail spans 100-kilometer from Centennial Terminal 2 to Clark International Airport in Pampanga, with a total travel time of 45 minutes.

Also on the pipeline is the construction of a new passenger terminal 2 at Mactan Cebu International Airport with a budget of P10.15 billion and the P1 billion new passenger terminal to be constructed in Tacloban airport.

DOTC has also set aside P2.07 billion for the rehabilitation of Naia terminals 1, 2  and 3 set for completion in 2014. Roxas said plans are under way to decongest NAIA through the reduction of corporate and air taxi flights by 50 percent of the current number of sorties during peak hours, construction of a rapid-exit taxiway to reduce runway occupancy time, and the transfer of noncommercial flights to Sangley Point.

Airports earmarked for massive upgrades are Kalibo International Airport with P3 billion budget for new passenger terminal building and airside facilities upgrade, P4.2 billion for Puerto Princesa Airport development project, and various airport upgrades nationwide with an P8 billion price tag. They include the airports of Laoag, Catarman, Ormoc, San Vicente, San Jose, Masbate, Borongan, Maasin, Butuan, Dipolog, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Cotabato, Davao, Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi.

Meanwhile, five (5) new airports are going to be build in Pangasinan, Catarman, Negros Oriental, Bukidnon, and Sultan Kudarat.