The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) continues to make strides to upgrade the country’s air transportation sector under the guidance of DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista.
Major development projects have been and are currently being implemented in Mindanao airports such as Butuan Airport and Davao Airport.
For Butuan Airport, the Expansion of Passenger Terminal Building under the Butuan Airport Development Project started on December 6, 2021 and was completed last December 16, 2022 with a total project cost of Php 17,652,405.13.
CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said that with the booming economy in Butuan, the Passenger Terminal Building now has an additional 324 square meters at its ground floor and 108 square meters for its mezzanine floor. This major upgrade is seen to provide travelers with convenience and comfort on the way to one of the country’s highly urbanized cities.
To better accommodate the passengers at Davao International Airport (DIA), part of its improvement also includes the installation of brand new escalators at the Passenger Terminal Building’s Domestic Arrival and Check-in Lobby areas.
Meanwhile, after the torrential rains and recent flooding have subsided in Zamboanga City, the Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA), in coordination with Zamboanga City Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), conducted clearing operations for accumulated garbage at the creek which flows under ZIA’s runway.
Spearheaded and supervised by CAAP – ZIA Officer-in-Charge Jimmy Santos, the LGU and DPWH deployed a long arm buck hoe after the airport’s operations. A table top planning activity was conducted on the same day to familiarize the working personnel within the vicinity to be cleared of waste.
The CAAP, through the leadership of Director General Captain Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo, persists to deliver a safe, accessible, comfortable and affordable air transportation sector through taking steps in the creation of reforms and continual improvement of the country’s aviation facilities, Apolonio said. (JERRY S. TAN)
