Tourism, transport officials eye more airports

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine tourism and transportation officials on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement to fund the construction of several airports in the country and equip them with night-rating capabilities.

A total of P1 billion has been set for approval by the board of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority on its next meeting, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat said at a conference at Clark Free Port, Pampanga.

“We must make sure that it’s not only more fun in the Philippines, but much safer, too,” she said.

As part of efforts to decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Puyat said the construction of a new international airport in Daraga, Albay, as well as the expansion plans for Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa and Laguindingan international airports, were in the works.

—Jerome Aning