Tugade orders quick repair of Clark International Airport

A magnitude 6.1 quake that shook parts of Luzon on Monday, April 22, 2019, inflicted heavy damage to the Clark International Airport. (Contributed photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade told officials of the Clark International Airport on Tuesday to implement emergency procurement for supplies and equipment for the repairs of the airport.

The airport sustained heavy damage when a magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit parts of Luzon on Monday afternoon.

READ: Clark International Airport heavily damaged by quake

“I guess everyone can understand that it’s really emergency and we don’t need a special budget. We don’t need bidding and procurement,” Tugade said in Filipino. “I believe that under the current situation and the needs of the traveling public we have to use emergency procurement.”

Emergency procurement allows a government project to skip normal bidding procedures.

According to Tugade, repairs on the airport will cost around P30 million.

The passenger terminal building would need immediate repairs as the runways and taxiways were undamaged. A crack found at the air traffic control tower was also superficial, Tugade said.

He said the airport could resume operations within the week.

“At the earliest, we can operate tomorrow [Wednesday]. At the latest, we can operate Thursday,” Tugade said.

Several airlines canceled Tuesday and Wednesday flights to and from the Clark airports due to its closure.

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