MANILA, Philippines — International aviation gateways in the country will include airports in Clark, Cebu, and Davao once Metro Manila shifts to general community quarantine (GCQ) on June 1, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Thursday.
During a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade explained that this was to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) terminals in Metro Manila.
“Ang gagawin po namin (What we will do), once we transition from MECQ to GCQ, is to expand the international aviation gateways to include Clark, Cebu, and Davao,” Tugade said.
The President has already approved the transition of Metro Manila from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to GCQ starting June 1.
Tugade noted that they are building testing laboratories for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the said airports as they expand the aviation gateways.
“Mahalaga hong sasabihin namin na as we expand the international aviation gateways, kaakibat po nito yung plano naming magtayo ng mga test laboratories. Meron na hong matatapos sa Clark, sa Cebu,” he said.
(It’s important to note that while we expand the international aviation gateways, we are complementing this with the plan to establish test laboratories. Test laboratories in Clark and Cebu are almost finished.)
Furthermore, Tugade said they are looking into adding more international aviation gateways in more provinces.
“Hangarin po namin na kung sa pag-umpisa ng transition from MECQ to GCQ, na every one or two weeks dagdagan yung international gateways para mapasama yung Zamboanga, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Bohol.
(As we transition from MECQ to GCQ, we want to add international gateways at least every one or two weeks to include Zamboanga, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Bohol.)
“Bear in mind that we are an archipelago and therefore it is imperative that we spread the aviation centrum of operations to other parts of the country, other parts of the region, kaya nga ho gagamitin ito (that’s why we will use this),” he explained.