The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) inaugurated Wednesday, May 25, the completed Vigan Airport development projects in Ilocos Sur.
The airport expansion in one of the “7 Wonder Cities of the World” includes the improved the Passenger Terminal Building, including the arrival and pre-departure areas and the construction of the airport’s Administrative Building, a powerhouse, and the provision of runaway features.
This increased the capacity of Vigan Airport’s previous capacity of only 40 to 150 passengers by three times.
“Kabilang sa nais kong mangyari bago matapos ang aming termino, ma-extend ‘yung runway by another 1-kilometer para nang sa ganun pati airbus pwedeng mag-landing dito,” DOTr Secretary Art Tugade said.
“Kaakibat at kasabay ng pag-extend ng runway, gusto kong maging night-rated ang Vigan airport. Oras na maging night-rated ito, magiging 24 hours operational na ang paliparan. Pangatlo, at hinihiling ko na magawa agad ito, ang pagpapalapad ng access sa Passenger Terminal Building,” he added.
The transportation chief also ordered the contractors to prevent further delays and speed up the construction of the project with the help of CAAP that is strictly monitoring its progress.
“Kung mangyayari at mangyayari ‘yung lahat ng mga iiwanan ko, then masasabi natin, indeed, the Duterte Administration has provided infrastructure and facility to make it known that Vigan is really one of the Seven Wonder Cities of the World,” Tugade said.
The ongoing projects at the airport include the construction of water tanks, vehicular parking area, cyclone wire perimeter fence, and a runway drainage system. ML – ag
