SIBULAN, Negros Oriental, March 12 (PIA) -- Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is hopeful that the improvements done at the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport would boost Negros Oriental’s tourism potential and pave the way for economic recovery in the province.
Duterte visited Negros Oriental on March 11 to inaugurate two development projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr): the newly-renovated Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport in Sibulan town and the newly-constructed Port of Operations Building of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) inside the seaport area of Dumaguete City.
The President led the unveiling of the marker for the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport which will be installed in the newly-improved airport.
He was joined by DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade and Civil Aviation Authority (CAAP) Director-General Jim Sydiongco, and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.
In his speech, Duterte said the airport looked nicer and he hopes this could help promote the image and tourism industry in the province.
“I hope this project will harness the potential of trade and tourism as the catalyst for economic recovery particularly in the province,” he said.
The cost of the renovation of the airport is pegged at P258,898,212.
Improvements at the airport include the re-blocking of apron and construction of two taxiways, expansion of existing passenger terminal building, overlaying of asphalt on the runway and shoulder grade correction, and expansion of the CAAP Administrative Building.
With the improvements, this will enhance the airport's capability to accommodate aircrafts from A319 to A320 and increase the terminal’s capacity to accommodate passengers from 330 to 450.
DOTr and CAAP collaborated in this initiative which is part of the national government’s massive infrastructure program “Build, Build, Build.”
“I commend the Department of Transportation, the CAAP, and all our partners who contributed to the completion of this project despite the sudden lockdown due to the pandemic. I hope this project will inspire us further to provide better services and opportunities for our people,” Duterte said.
Tugade, in a separate media briefing, assured that the government will continue to improve the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport while the proposed new airport in Bacong town is yet to be constructed.
“Hindi nagtatapos ang improvement. Kung mayroon dapat gagawin, nandito ang CAAP. Nandito ang Administrasyong Duterte na gagawa at gagawa ng improvement na yan. Mag-iimprove tayo ng runway para mag-landing ang mga malalaking eroplano (Improvements will never end. If there are further things to improve, CAAP is here and the Duterte Administration is here to implement additional improvements. We will further enhance the runway so that bigger planes can land here),” Tugade said.
Duterte also emphasized in his speech the government’s full commitment in finishing all infrastructure projects of the government within his term.
“I assure our people that we will remain committed to finish all infrastructure projects on time, within my administration with the least inconvenience to the public and with the strict adherence to honesty and integrity,” he said.
“Corruption has no place here as we do our best to revive our economy and give our people the opportunity to recover and live better lives,” Duterte added.
The President also emphasized that as the government continues to make efforts on economic recovery, the public should continue to practice minimum health standards in all places including transport areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
After the event at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport, Duterte proceeded to the Dumaguete Seaport for the inauguration of newly-constructed Port of Operations Building of the Philippine Ports Authority. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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