Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. Photo from DOTr
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, together with CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco inaugurated the newly developed Zamboanga Airport in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, September 28.
Tugade and Sydiongco were joined by Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng” G. Climaco-Salazar, Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Cesar Jimenez, Jr., DOTr Usec. Raul Del Rosario, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago, CAAP Chief of Staff Danjun Lucas, airline stakeholders, and local and regional officials.
“Nandito tayo ngayon upang bigyang patotoo na ang Zamboanga Airport ay pang-komersyo, pang-turismo, pang-seguridad. Sa phase 2 ng airport development project na ito, palalaparin pa natin at aayusin ang runway, taxiway, apron upang sa gayon yung safety at comfort ng mga eroplanong naglalanding at nagtatake off ay magagarantiya,” Tugade said in his message.
Among the projects that CAAP and DOTr inaugurated on Tuesday was the rehabilitation of the existing passenger terminal building (PTB) of the Zamboanga Airport. The project covers the 19.20 meters x 36.00 meters expansion of the PTB at its right side and the rehabilitation of several areas at the existing terminal building. With these improvements, Zamboanga Airport’s PTB has been provided with an additional 691.2 square meters of space, making the PTB a 3,456 square meters structure.
The PTB can now also cater to more passengers. From a 500-passenger capacity, it could now accommodate a total of 750 passengers at the arrival and pre-departure area.
Moreover, projects for added improvement at Zamboanga Airport’s PTB, construction and improvement of GAD Multipurpose Hall and Malasakit Hall were also inaugurated. The newly constructed GAD Multipurpose Hall has a total floor area of 563 square meters with a roof deck.
CAAP’s Lucas said the upgraded Zamboanga Airport serves as a clear manifestation of CAAP, DOTr, and the local government of Zamboanga City’s commitment to maintaining the province’s airport facilities and to help the country’s air sector to rise again.