DOTC to get P13 B for airport rehab

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will receive P13.3 billion next year for the repair of the country’s airports, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 which is notorious for backward facilities and overcrowding.

The proposed P13.3 billion in the DOTC’s budget for airports rehabilitation is P4 billion higher than the present year’s level, and is meant to improve the condition of airport facilities to enhance their services.

Senate President Franklin Drilon emphasized the importance of improving the state of the country’s airports, especially the NAIA which serves as the gateway for most visitors to the country.

“It is in the airports that visitors get their first and last impression of a country. It is therefore important that we make sure that the first and last thing people see when they visit the nation is the sight of an efficient and capable airport,” Drilon said.

He stressed that the rehabilitation of the airports should be completed before the start of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) ministerial meetings, which would be held in at least eight different location across the country starting in December.

“Our improved airports will be a good boost to our international image when we host the APEC next year. That is why it is very critical that we make sure that the bidding process for the repair and rehabilitation projects will be efficient, and will avoid costly project delays or bureaucratic snags,” he added.

Based on the details provided under the National Expenditures Program (NEP), Drilon noted that various airports in the country would undergo different phases of development and capacity build-up next year.

The NAIA, for instance, would receive P592 million for its capacity expansion and maximization.

The Clark International Airport in Pampanga would be allocated P1.2 billion; Kalibo Airport, P950 million; and the Iloilo International Airport, P791 million.

Tourism hotspot Palawan would also get a boost with the DOTC allocating P1.02 billion for the improvement of the Busuanga Airport and P1.55 billion for the Puerto Princesa Airport.

Other airports that would be covered by the budget of the DOTC for 2015 are those in General Santos City (P959 million), Ozamis (P695 million), Calbayog (P678 million) and Camarines Sur in Naga (P670 million), as well as the Bicol International Airport (P1.55 billion), New Bohol (Panglao) International Airport Development Project (P400 million) and the Laguindingan International Airport (P75.44 million).

“An efficient transport infrastructure is key to the fast flow of people and tourists, resources and money into countries as it provides access to local and international markets and trade. When we allow our airports to remain unsatisfactorily dilapidated, we are also allowing a great deal of revenues to fly away,” Drilon stressed.

The improvement of the country’s airports, Drilon noted, would also be crucial to the attainment of various goals and target outputs listed by the DOTC in the Performance Information section of the budget.

“Among the plans of DOTC for 2015 are to increase the number of seats offered to the public by five percent next year or equivalent to 28 million domestic seats and 26 million international seats; and increase the number of operated routes to 85 from 84 this year for domestic routes and 81 from 79 for international routes,” he added.

The agency is also targeting 21 million domestic passengers and 18 million international passengers in 2015.

“We must then respond to the rising number of passengers flying in and out of the county with better service, improved facilities and more responsible airport management,” Drilon said.

“If the problem is the budget, the Senate is willing to extend support as long as the DOTC can assure us that the airport developments will be finished before the APEC meetings in 2015,” he added.