CAPAS, Tarlac — The government is set to open three new terminals in the next couple of months, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Tugade said in a press conference here Wednesday the New Bohol International Airport in Panglao, Cavite Gateway Terminal Phase 1 in Tanza, and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) will be completed shortly.
The DOTr chief said that while government will delay the opening of Panglao airport from the original target of August this year, it will be operational by mid-October.
“Because of the inclement weather and some details which we have to finalize with three airlines, we are moving the schedule from August to mid-October,” he said.
Also in the next few months, the Cavite barge terminal in Tanza will be opened and is expected to reduce by 30 percent the number of container trucks plying around Metro Manila.
“Hopefully, when this business model is proven to be successful as we would like to think that it would be successful — add two or three more barge terminals, and perhaps, in the shortest possible time we can achieve the reality that ultimately there will be no more containers that will ply the streets and the highways of Metro Manila,” said Tugade.
On the other hand, the official said the PITX is now 90 percent completed and will be operating soon.
Moreover, Tugade said DOTr is eyeing the resumption of the commercial operation of Subic airport.
He said he also remains optimistic about meeting the target completion date of the LRT1 extension to Cavite by 2021 despite construction delays in the extension project.
Meanwhile, Tugade mentioned that the DOTr has renovated, refurbished, and completed some 129 ports across the country during the first two years of the Duterte administration. (Kris Crismundo/PNA)
