DOTC eyes up to 5 more airports near towns

MANILA, Philippines – The Transportation department is planning to develop four to five more airports in a bid to boost the country’s tourism industry, an official said.

“We are working on four to five more airports as part of phase II,” Transport undersecretary Rene Limcaoco said during the Philippine Economic Briefing yesterday.

He said the government is currently working on the development of airports which include Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Laguindingan in Cagayan de Oro, Panglao in Bohol, Mactan in Cebu and Legazpi in Albay.

He said the department is still trying to identify the location of the four to five airports to be developed with the Department of Tourism.

Airlines, he also said, would have a say in the locations of the airports.

He said the airports would be located close to the country’s tourist destinations.

“We are doing this to support tourism,” he said.

Last month, Philippine Airlines (PAL) president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said the flag carrier plans to build an international airport to be situated in a 2,000-hectare property near Manila which would have a modern passenger terminal and four runways, and would co-exist with the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Last week, Aseana Holdings, Inc. chairman Delfin Wenceslao Jr., said the firm is planning to conduct a feasibility study to reclaim an area for an offshore airport as it expects an increase in traffic given developments in Aseana City and in Entertainment City.

The airport being eyed by Aseana Holdings would be two kilometers off the shore of Sangley Point in Cavite.

Limcaoco said that despite such pronouncements, the department has yet to receive proposals on such.

He said the government is still looking at the Clark airport as the new main gateway given the congestion in NAIA.