NEWS

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is fast-tracking the completion of the Antique Airport’s expansion program to quickly spur traffic and tourism in the province.

Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Manuel Antonio Tamayo said his group has ordered the contractor, Verzontal Construction, to finish the airport development program two months ahead of its original completion date.

“We have requested the contractor to fast-track the development of the Antique Airport to efficiently serve the region. To do this, we need the augmentation of workers and equipment, and extend the working hours from 8 to 12 hours,” he said.

The project, which started December last year, is now 12 percent complete. Its original completion date is set for August 2020.

Ongoing improvements at the airport include the construction of a new passenger terminal building, apron, taxiway, fire station building, power house, administration building, perimeter and security fence, vehicle parking area and staff house.

Likewise, the agency and Deputy House Speaker Loren Legarda discussed the possibility of extending the runway from 1,430 meters to 1,800 meters in order to accommodate jet operations.

The lawmaker has pledged to secure P150 million in additional funding to make this proposal work.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade noted that his office will work towards ensuring that the airport will be completed within the contract period.

“We will ensure that this airport will be upgraded on or before its target date so that we may deliver to the people of Antique the service and facility that they have long been yearning for,” he said.

The airport stopped commercial operations for several years and was used only by private planes until the government decided to reopen it in December.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines launched direct flights to Antique last December 16. PAL flies from Clark International Airport to Antique twice a week.

Source: Business Mirror