The Transportation department said that the Bicol International Airport (BIA) is on track of completion after almost 13 years of delay.
The DOTr said that original pre-feasibility study of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) predates back in 1996, and the Notice to Proceed for the construction of said project was given in 2003.
However, actual construction only commenced in 2016.
As of April 19, 2021, Package 2A of the airport development project, which covers the construction of landside facilities and other buildings, is 93.71% complete.
Meanwhile, Package 2B, covering the construction of the PTB and runway extension, as well as the construction of the taxiway, drainage, and other site development works, is 64.61% complete.
Once completed, the airport is set to serve a total of two million passengers every year, which will surely boost air traffic and tourist arrivals in the region.
For Secretary Tugade, the fulfillment of this long-awaited major transport project for the Bicolanos, is a powerful statement of President Duterte’s desire to see significant improvement across regions, which he recognized and pushed for its realization, with the help and full support of the DOTr Aviation Sector, along with other government agencies and the LGUs.
The DOTr said that the airport will pave the way for the Albay province and the Bicol Region to be transformed into an economic powerhouse, which will greatly benefit the Bicolanos for years ahead, with vast opportunities for more jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, and the potential boom in tourism.