Airports in Tropical Depression Obet’s path only suffered minor damage, says DOTr

NORTHERN GATEWAY Basco Airport, which serves the province of Batanes, receives only two flights in a month. INQUIRER file photo / NATHAN ALCANTARA

MANILA, Philippines — Airports that bore the brunt of Tropical Depression Obet only sustained “minor” damage, a transportation official said Thursday.

“’Yung epekto ng bagyong Obet nung nakaraang linggo ay maliit lang ang mga naging epekto lalo na doon sa airport sa Basco, Cauayan, at Tuguegarao,” Department of Transportation (DOTr) Executive Assistant Jonathan Gesmundo said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(The effect of Tropical Depression Obet on airports last week is only minimal, especially in airports in Basco, Cauayan, and Tuguegarao.)

He added that the airports are currently operational.

Gesmundo has not given an exact figure on the incurred cost of damage to the affected airports.

“‘Yung datos na ‘yun ay kasalukuyang kinakalap pa pero ‘yun nga nasabi ko, minor ang mga naging damage sa mga passenger terminals ng mga airport dulot ng bagyo,” he said.

(The data is still being collected, but as I said, the damage to passenger terminals and airports due to the tropical cyclone was only minor.)

Obet, traversed the country’s northern portion, left the Philippine Area of Responsibility last Saturday.

The DOTr is currently preparing for the impact of Tropical Depression Paeng, which was last spotted off Bicol region.

Gesmundo said that they are monitoring the situation to assess if flight cancellations will be announced. —With reports from Alyssa Joy Quevedo, trainee

JPV/abc