Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the P4.798-billion Bicol International Airport (BIA) is now 90 percent complete.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade assured Bicolanos of a world-class airport by the end of the year.
Tugade flew today to the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Daraga, Albay, to inspect the new airport.
"As promised, I landed at the newly constructed runway of the Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay," Tugade said in a statement Friday (July 30).
He said the P4.798-billion BIA in Barangay Alobo is now 90 percent complete.
It was certified as a "priority" project by the Duterte administration under the “Build Build Build” infrastructure program.
The airport project gained traction when Tugade directed the DOTr’s air sector to fast track the airport’s construction.
Under the direction of Secretary Tugade, theproject’s construction was also able to employ 755 workers despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1,100 more indirect jobs awaiting locals once the airport becomes operational.
Meanwhile, the two contractors of the airport project have committed to complete all civil works under their respective contracts by 30 August 2021.
Once completed, the gateway is expected to boost air traffic in the region and accommodate a total of 2 million passengers annually.
Almost complete
As of July 28, the BIA’s construction accomplishment rate is at 89 percent. This constitutes Package 2A and Package 2B of the project.
Package 2A is already 96 percent accomplished and is expected to be fully completed by August 30, subject to further necessary works after inspection by the DOTr and by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
Included under Package 2A are the construction of the airport’s air traffic control tower, administration building, crash fire rescue building, and cargo terminal building, among others.
Package 2B, meanwhile, is at 86 percent completion and is expected to be fully completed by end of August 2021, subject to further necessary works after inspections by the DOTr and CAAP.
Included under Package 2B are the construction of the BIA’s passenger terminal building (PTB) which is now 90.5-percent complete and is expected to be finished by August 31.
Also included under Package 2B is the extension of the airport’s runway which is now 75 percent finished and is also expected to be completed that date. (ONT)
Tags: #DepartmentOfTransportation, #ArthurTugade, #BicolInternationalAirport, #BuildBuildBuild