Caap: Legazpi Airport likely operational by December 4

This December 3, 2019, photo shows the damage at Legazpi Airport due to Typhoon Tisoy. INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Tisoy-torn Legazpi Airport may resume operations by Wednesday morning, an official from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) said.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Caap Director General Jim Sydiongco said the Legazpi Airport suffered significant damage.

“(Sa) Legazpi [airport], substantial ‘yung damage niya, dun sa departure and arrival… We are now securing it. As we speak, marami nang taong gumagawa doon, naglilinis,” he said.

(At Legazpi [airport], it has substantial damage, in the departure and arrival area… We are now securing it. As we speak, many people are already working there, cleaning.)

“We are doing our level best na maging operational siya (that it will be operational) by tomorrow (Wednesday) morning,” he added.

Sydiongco also said Caap has dispatched security personnel to the region’s central airport.

“Nagpadala tayo ng augmentation ng security personnel para kung hindi man gagana ‘yung x-ray, ‘yung scanners, pwedeng manual body and visual check atsaka to secure the perimeter,” he said.

(We dispatched more personnel to augment security if in case x-ray machines or scanners won’t function, manual body and visual check can be done as well as to secure the perimeter).

The Caap chief, meanwhile, said no substantial damage was sustained by the Virac Airport and will be also be operational by Wednesday.

“(Sa) Virac [airport], no substantial damage, meron lang maliliit (At Virac [airport], no substantial damage there, only some minimal). We can expect normal operation doon (there) tomorrow,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sydiongco said only signages at the airport in Calbayog, Samar, were damaged.

“As a matter of fact, meron ng nakalanding doon sa Calbayog so walang masyadong probelma,” he said.

(As a matter of fact, an airplane was already able to land in the airport in Calbayog, so there’s not a lot of problems there).

Caap has yet to receive reports on the condition of the airports in Masbate and Naga, Sydiongco added.

Edited by KGA