THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that they were able to complete 250 aviation and airport projects since the start of the Duterte Administration in 2016
The agency said it was able to complete these projects together with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
Among these projects include the new passenger terminal of the Clark International Airport, Bicol International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, Zamboanga International Airport, Catarman Airport, Calbayog Airport, Siquijor Airport, General Santos Airport, Ormoc Airport, Virac Airport, Camiguin Airport, and Butuan Airport, to name a few.
Moreover, the DOTr continued on other projects even during the final stretch of the current administration such as overseeing the developments at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Vigan Airport, Surigao Airport, Siargao Airport, and Davao International Airport.
Other notable projects for the country’s aviation and airports include the establishment of the long-delayed Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM), as well as the night-rating of 23 commercial airports in a bid to increase the operational efficiency of airports and reduce daytime flight congestion.
Advanced air connectivity and mobility in the country, and to the rest of the world has been the aim of the DOTr since Secretary Art Tugade took office six years ago and even to these last days of office, have pursued to build more new gateways and rehabilitate existing ones.
The DOTr, under Tugade, also managed to resolve incidents it faced before such as “Laglag-Bala” and “Bukas Bagahe” in airports, where from being tagged as the “world’s worst airport,” the NAIA is now recognized as one of the “most improved airports in the world.”
“This is what we have done— build the airports, improve it, modernize it, make it world-class,” Tugade remarked
He said the DOTr, to this day, have remained “driven to deliver, serve, and build for the Filipino people, with a vision of making their lives comfortable and convenient.”